THE  LIBRARY 


E  UNIVERSITY 


OF  CAL  FORNIA 


LOS  ANGELES 


IIKNKY  T.   KIN*;. 


SKETCHES  OF 


PITT  COUNTY 


A  Brief  History  of  the  County 


1704—1910 


ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  MAPS 


Ry  HENRY  T.  KING 


RALEIGH 

KmvAlins  &  BiiorciHTuN  I>iu\n.\<;  COMPANY 
Printers  and  Hinders. 
1911 


P  £,  /< 


TO   THE    YOUTH    OF  PUT   COUNTY, 

DESCENDANTS    OF    A    NOBLE    ANCESTRY,   WHO, 

EVER    FAITHFUL    TO    EVERY    DUTY,  LEFT    THEM    EXAMPLES 

WORTHY    OF    IMITATION    AND    PRACTICE, 

THIS    LITTLE    VOLUME    IS 

DEDICATED 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 
Early  Mention  of  the  Tar  and  Pamlico  River  Country — Lawson  in 

Pitt — The  Tuscarora  Indians — Indian  Localities — King  Blount,      17 

CHAPTER  TWO. 

Duvall  Settles  at  Mount  Calvert — King  Blount  Helped — "Black 
Beard,"  or  Teach — King  Blount  Given  Land  in  Bertie — Other 
Settlements  Along  Tar  River — George  Moye  and  the  Indian — 
Edward  Salter — Edgecombe — Tar— Precincts  Made  ('minties...  23 

CHAPTER  THREE. 

EUgecombe  County — Tobacco  Inspection — Military  Census — Tohn 
Hardy — Hugh  McAden,  a  Presbyterian  Preacher — His  Trip — 
Tells  of  his  Meetings 29 

»  CHAPTER   FOUR. 

09     Something     About     Early     Settlers — Entering     Land — Quit-rents— 
>.  Building  Regulations — Overseers  and   Slaves — Marking  Stock — 

S|  The    Established    Church — Wild    Animals — Liquor    Question — 

How  People  Lived — Court-houses 34 

CHAPTER  FIVE. 

High     Life — Education — Marriage — Domestic     Life — Mail — Amuse- 
5?  ments  and  Pleasure— "High  Betty  Martin" — The  Children 38 

CHAPTER  SIX. 

2  John  Simpson — Petition  to  Divide  Beaufort  County — Pitt  County 
Formed — Boundaries — Court-house — Named  for  William  Pitt — 
Alexander  Stewart — Taxes — Jurors — Ministerial  Jealousy — Line 
Between  Pitt  and  Dobbs — Salter  and  Move — Red  Banks  Ferry — 

O  Masonic  Lodge — The  Assembly 41 

^  CHAPTER  SEVEN. 

X     Courts — William-Moore  Complained  of  Simpson — Simpson  Censured 
J*J              and     Reprimanded — Mail     Route — Regulators — March     to    Ala- 
mance — Pitt  Company  Under  Captain  Salter — Sheriff's  Arrears 
^  — Martinborough    47 

CHAPTER  EIGHT. 

Official  Corruption — Blue  Laws — County  Officers — The  "John  and 
Elizabeth"  Schooner  Affair — Few  Taxes  Paid — Militia  Officers — 
Martinborough — Revolutionary  Proceed  ings — Pitt  Freeholders 
Issue  a  Declaration  of  Rights — Standing  Committee  Appointed,  51 


4G2459 


O  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  NINE. 

Help  for  Boston — Donations  Asked — Committee  Elected  as  Directed 
by  the  Continental  Congress — Members — The  Salt  Question — 
Provincial  Congress  at  New  Bern— Court-house — Vermin 56 

CHAPTER  TEN. 

Committee  of  Safety  Proceedings — Deputies  to  Provincial  Congress 
Elected — Three  Obstructionists — Acts  of  Continental  Congress 
Approved — Jbhn  Tison,  Tory — Help  for  Boston— Provincial  Con- 
gress and  Assembly — Second  Declaration  of  Pvights — Rev.  Mr. 
Blount — Patrollers — Atkinson  and  Sheppard 60 

CHAPTER  ELEVEN. 

Negro  Insurrection — Measures  to  Prevent  it — White  Man  Instigator 
— No  Lives  Lost,  but  Negroes  Whipped — Delegates  to  Hillsboro 
— Raising  Troops — Military  Districts  and  Officers — Justices 
Qualify— Trouble  About  Rev.  Mr.  Blount 65 

CHAPTER  TWELVE. 

Committee  Meets — Hillsborough  Resolves — John  Tison,  Patriot — 
Delegates  to  Provincial  Congress — Committee  of  Secrecy,  Intelli- 
gence and  Observation  —  Pay  for  Provisions  —  Ammunition 
Bought — Salt — Pay  for  Ammunition — Allowances  to  Troops — 
Preparations  for  War 69 

CHAPTER  THIRTEEN. 

Pitt  Members  of  District  Committee — Capt.  James  Armstrong — Test 
and  Pledge — Supplies  Bought — Pitt  at  Battle  of  Moore's  Creek 
— More  Patrollers — Salt — Delinquents — Daniel  Fore — Bounty 
Money — Arthur  Moore — Mr.  Carson,  Dancing  Master — Delegates 
to  Halifax — Instructions  for  Independence — John  Simpson....  73 

CHAPTER  FOURTEEN. 

Provincial  Council — Pitt  Company  at  Wilmington — Officers — Re- 
turns of  Men — Independence — John  Hunter — Delegates  to  Hali- 
fax— More  Troops — Equipment  of  Soldiers — James  Salter — En- 
listments in  Other  States — Justices  of  the  Peace — Royalists  Plot 
— Lack  of  Arms — Two  Vagabond  Young  Men — Protest  Against 
General  Moore — The  Assembly 78 

CHAPTER  FIFTEEN. 

No  Senator — Supplies — Insolvents — Pitt's  Quota — Sheriffs  Fined' — 
Simpson  Succeeds  Robesun — Falconer  Succeeds  Ascue — More 
Troops — Members  of  Assembly — Robert  Salter — Robert  Wil- 
liams, Surgeon — Field  Ollicers — Colonel  Armstrong  Wounded — • 
Dav  of  Fasting — Charleston — -Monev — Continental  Armv.  82 


CONTENTS.  7 

CHAPTER  SIXTEEN. 

Guilford  Court-house — Pitt  Militia— Joel  Truss— Old  British  Road- 
British  Pass  Through  Pitt — Cuttle  and  Provisions  Captured — 
Skirmishes — Men  and  Guns  at  Martinborough — Troubles  South 
of   Pitt — Call    for   Troops — Prisoners    in    Jail — Buck's    Barn — 
Leniency    Sfi 

CHAPTER  SEVENTEEN. 

Peace  and  Independence — Part  of  Pitt  Given  to  Beaufort — .John 
Simpson — Negro  Burned  for  Murder — Acts  of  the  Assembly — 
Armstrong  and  Salter,  State  Oflicers — Justices  Resign — Part  of 
Craven  Given  to  Pitt — Armstrong,  Brigadier-General — -Pitt 
Academy — Greenville  —  William  Blount  —  Greenville  Ferry — 
Simpson  Paid 90 

CHAPTER  EIGHTEEN. 

Constitution  Rejected — Motions  and  Vote  Thereon — Location  of  Cap- 
ital— Constitution  Adopted — Amendments  Recommended — The 
University — Foreign  State — New  Court-house — John  Simpson 
Dead — Bounties  for  Manufactures — Pitt  Iron  Mines — Pitt  in  the 
Revolution — Governor  Caswell's  Opinion 95 

CHAPTER  NINETEEN. 

Tory  Pardons — Vote  on  the  Capital  Bill — William  Blount — First 
Census — Washington's  Tour — Impressions  in  Pitt — Old  People — 
James  Armstrong  Dead — Second  Census — Peace  and  Progress — 
Schools  and  Houses — Mail  Facilities — Modes  of  Conveyance — 
Good  Old  Times 99 

CHAPTER  TWENTY. 

Third  Census— Yankee  Hall— Second  War  with  England— Two  Pitt 
Companies  at  Beacon  Island— Their  Pay-roll — Retreat  and 
Amusing  Incident — Fourth  Census- — Occupations — Bridge  at 
Greenville— ^Greenville  Academies — Fifth  Census — John  Joyner,  104 

C HA  PTER  TWENTY-ON E. 

Steamboats — Constitutional  Convention  of  1835 — Delegates — Impor- 
tant Votes — Baptist  State  Convention— Greenville  Gazette — 
Presidential  Election — Loss  in  Population— Flat  Boats — Dr. 
Williams  Dead — Harris  and  Yellowly  Duel — Harris  Killed — 
Academy  Incorporated  109 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-TWO. 

Plank  Road — Seventh  Census— Plank  Road  Stockholders  Organized 
— Cold  Spring — Court-house  Burned — Great  Loss — Common 
Schools  and  Progress — County  Superintendent — Apportionment 
— Journal  of  Education — Verv  Old  Man..  .  113 


O  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-THREE. 

Military  Spirit — Good  Old  Muster  Days — Eighth  Census — Elections 
— Fort  Sumter — President  Calls  for  Volunteers — Governor  Ellis 
Calls  for  Volunteers  for  State's  Defense — Secession  Convention 
— Pitt's  Members — G.  B.  Singeltary  Raises  First  Company — 
Tar  River  Boys — Marlboro  Guards — Disbursing  and  Safety 
Committee — War  Funds — Third  Regiment 1 18 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FOUR. 

Major  Grimes — Wyatt  Killed — Disposition  of  Pitt  Companies  and 
Men — Hatteras  Captured — Pitt  County  Boys  Prisoners — Sur- 
geon Brown  and  Madison — Yellowly's  Call  for  Volunteers — 
Officers  of  Twenty-seventh  Regiment — Chicamacomico — Promo- 
tions    122 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIVE. 

Enlistments— Military  Board — Capture  of  Roanoke  Island — Com- 
panies and  Officers — Forty-fourth  Regiment — Seventeenth — 
Grimes,  Lieutenant-Colonel — Fifty-fifth — Tranter's  Creek  Skir- 
mish— Fight  a  Few  Days  Later — Colonel  Singeltary  Killed — 
Movements — Seventy-fifth  126 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SIX. 

Vance  Elected  Governor — State  Census — Yellowly  for  Congress — 
Fifty-fifth  at  Kinston — General  Clingman's  Complaint — Mary- 
land Campaign— Captain  Joyner  Killed — Heavy  Losses- — Singel- 
tary's  Reply — Movement  of  Troops — Haddock's  Cross-roads — 
Federals  Capture  Greenville — Other  Events 130 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SEVEN. 

Emancipation  Proclamation — Movements  of  Troops — Colonel  Griffin 
in  Pitt — His  Picket  Lines — Tithe  Gatherers — Colonel  Ham- 
mond— His  Predicament — Conversation- — Escape — Chaneellors- 
ville — Jackson  Killed — In  Virginia 134 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-EIGHT. 

Gettysburg — Farthest  At — Severe  Losses — Potter's  Raid — At  Green- 
ville— Videttes  Fired  Upon — Return  from  Tarboro — Skirmish  at 
Otter's  Creek  Bridge — Lieutenant  Sharps — Escape  of  Raiders — 
Their  Route — At  Scuffleton — Demoralization  of  Followers 138 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-NINE. 

The  Eighth — Major  Yellowly — Forty-fourth  and  Sixty-sixth — Bris- 
toe  Station — Losses — Cas  Laughinghouse — Duel  That  Never  Oc- 
curred— War  Prices— Capture  at  Haddock's  Cross-roads — Red 
Banks  Affair — Other  Events..  .  142 


CONTENTS.  \) 

CHAPTER  THIRTY. 

County  Matters — Sixty-seventh — Movements  of  Other  Regiments- 
Plymouth  Captured — Great  Victory — Heavy  Losses — Taxes — 
The  Wilderness — Remarkable  Fighting — Spottsylvania— General 
Daniel  Wounded  and  Grimes  in  Command — Drewry's  Bluff — 
Captains  Jarvis  and  Ilines  Wounded — Thomas  King — Juniors — 
Cold  Harbor — Captain  Anderson  Killed 145 

CHAPTER     THIRTY-ONE. 

Grimes,  Brigadier-General — Losses  Around  Petersburg — A  Great 
Capture  by  Fleming,  James,  Cherry  and  Coggins — Regiment  of 
Juniors — Davis  Farm — Reams  Station — Hard  Times  in  Rich- 
mond— Short  Rations — Winchester — Grimes  in  Command  of 
Division — Other  Fighting — Peace  Party — Pitt  Oflicers  of  Jun- 
iors— Fort  Fisher  I •">() 

CHAPTER    THIRTY-TWO. 

Deeds  of  Daring  by  Harris  and  Bland — Losses  and  Promotions — 
Around  Petersburg — Fall  of  Fort  Fisher — Wise's  Fork — South- 
vest  Creek — Bentonsvilk — Juniors — Struggling  Against  Odds.  .  l.~>4 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-THREE. 

Lee's    Lines    Broken    at    Petersburg — Retreat — Incident: Johnston 

and  Sherman — Appomattox — Last  Charge — Surrender — Johns- 
ton Surrenders  to  Sherman — Pitt's  Parole  at  Appomattox — 
Men  Furnished — Officers  157 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-FOUR. 

"Wheelers" — Dupree  Kills  Federal — Amnesty — Holden  Provisional 
Governor — Delegates  to  Convention — Acts — Worth  Elected  Gov- 
ernor— School  Matters — War-time  School  Books — Curious  Les- 
sons    1  ti  1 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-FIVE. 

War-time  School  Books — Geographical  Reader  for  Dixie  Children — - 
Description  of  the  State — Its  People — Patriotic— South  Caro- 
lina— Review — Questions  and  Answers — Confederate  Prowess 
Taught  Hi.) 

CI 1 A  PTE  R  Til  I RTY-SI X. 

Carpetbaggers — Legislature  of  IStiti — Pensions — Thirteenth  Amend- 
ment— Reconstruction — Military  Government — Cotton  Planter 
— Education — Willis  Briley  Murdered — Two  of  the  Murderers 
Hanged — Negro  Militia — Latlin  and  Rieh — Misguided  Mission- 
aries .  .  lit!) 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-SEVEN. 

Riddick  Carney — Attempt  to  Capture — Federal  Lieutenant  Killed — 
Second  Attempt  to  Capture — Major  Lyman  and  Negro  Militia — 
Two  Negroes  Killed — Both  Carneys  Die — Horrible  Tragedy— 
Ku  Klux — Negro  Officers — Specimens 174 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-EIGHT. 

Ninth  Census — Things  Improving — Convention  of  1875 — Delegates- — 
Vance  and  Jarvis  Elected — Jarvis  Becomes  Governor — News- 
papers— Jarvis  Elected  Governor — -Latham  Elected  to  Congress 
— General  Grimes  Assassinated — A  Lynching 179 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-NINE. 

Tenth  Census — County  Towns — Education — Evolutions  of  the  Old 
Male  Academy — Prominent  Teachers — Latham  Defeated — Yel- 
lowly  Dead — Jarvis  Minister  to  Brazil — Fine  Babies — Earth- 
quake— Latham  Elected — Railroad  183 

CHAPTER  FORTY. 

Eleventh  Census — Growth  in  Country  and  Towns — More  Towns — 
Education — County  Superintendents — Tobacco — Market  Opened 
— Farmer  Governor — Daily  Reflector — King's  Weekly — Jarvis 
Appointed  U.  S.  Senator — Harry  Skinner  Elected  to  Congress — 
Great  Fire — Telephones — Skinner  Re-elected — Latham  Dead- — 
Records  for  Postmasters  188 

CHAPTER  FORTY-ONE. 

Spanish-American  War — Greenville  Guards — Officers — Mustered  in 
at  Raleigh— Go  to  Tybee— Storm— Mustered  Out— Skinner  De- 
feated— Greenville  Fair — Second  Great  Fire — Tingle  Succeeded 
by  Ragsdale — Bryan  Grimes  Elected  Secretary  of  State — Rail- 
road —  Telephone  Matters  —  Amendment  — -  Twelfth  Census  — 
Towns— Dr.  0'IIagan  Dead 193 

CHAPTER  FORTY-TWO. 

First  Four-weeks  Teachers'  Institute  in  State — Rural  Free  Delivery 
— Harry  Skinner  Appointed  United  States  District  Attorney — 
Special  Taxes  for  Schools — Teachers  Organize — County  Board 
of  Education — Full-time  Superintendent  —  Houses  —  Medals  — 
Grimes  Re-elected — Skinner  Re-appointed — Railroads — Public 
Building — Steel  Bridges — Grimes  Elected  Third  Time — Train- 
ing School— Pitt  Dry 198 

CHAPTER  FORTY-THREE. 

Laughinghouse  Superintendent  of  Penitentiary — Post-otlice  Site — 
Training  School  Opened — Its  History — Senator  Fleming  Dead — 

Big    Fire— Court-house    Burned Records    Saved — Greenville 

Post-office  Advanced  to  Second  Class 203 

ADDENDA    .  .    206 


CONTENTS.  1  1 

CONCLUSION  ...                                                                              207 

MAPS. 

Map  of  Indian  Locations 18 

Map  of  Karly  Settlements  along  Tar  River 27 

Map  of  Pitt  County  in  17<iO 41 

Map  of  Pitt  County  in  1787 1)2 

Map  of  Pitt  County,  showing  Townships 201 


INTRODUCTION. 

These  Sketches  are  the  result  of  years  of  inquiry,  research 
and  compilation.  They  arc  intended  to  give  such  traditions 
and  facts  as  could  be  had  from  reliable  sources  and  records. 
An  earnest  endeavor  has  been  made  to  get  the  truth  and  put 
it  in  form  to  place  before  the  public,  that  the  heritage  of  a 
glorious  past,  and  the  achievements  of  the  present  may  be  the 
pride  of  posterity. 

Efforts  have  been  made  to  be  as  correct  as  possible,  but  with 
matter,  written  and  unwritten,  traditions  and  reminiscences, 
errors  arc  unavoidable.  From  diversity  of  statement  and 
difference  of  opinion,  accuracy  has  been  sought  Criticism 
is  legitimate,  but  it  should  not  minimize  the  true.  The  criti- 
cism that  may  eliminate  errors  in  the  future  will  be  duly 
appreciated. 

Acknowledgments  are  made  to  the  lale  .Dr.  \V.  ]\1.  B. 
Brown,  the  late  Dr.  C.  J.  O'llagan,  Hon.  A.  L.  Blow,  Hon. 
W.  K.  Williams,  Hon.  J.  Bryan  Grime?,  and  to  many  others, 
who  have  at  various  times  rendered  valuable  aid  in  the  collec- 
tion and  preservation  of  historical  matter:  and  to  thorn  is  duo 
much  credit  for  the  production  of  these  Sketches. 

These  Sketches  are  not  intended  as  a  biography,  genealogy 
or  advertisement,  but  the  demand  for  sketches  of  many  of 
Pitt's  prominent  men,  both  of  the  past  and  the  present,  has 
made  necessary  the  addition  of  a  second  part,  where  many 
such  sketches  may  be  found.  And  from  a  financial  stand- 
point, it  has  been  found  well  to  allow  advertisements  <>r  a 
directory  of  some  of  the  County  and  Towns.  But  all  are  parts, 
separate  and  distinct,  and  not  confusing. 


14  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

With  a  consciousness  that  much  matter  of  historical  value 
is  here  preserved,  that  should  be  a  source  of  patriotic  pride 
to  the  people  of  the  County,  and  simply  asking  credit  for 
whatever  merit  may  be  found  in  them,  these  Sketches  of  Pitt 
County  are  respectfully  submitted. 

Greenville,  N.  C.,  HENRY  T.  KING. 

January,  1910. 


SKKTCMKS    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY.  15 


To  cite  authorities  for  much  of  the  matter  herein  recorded 
would  demand  more  space  than  can  be  allotted  in  a  work  like 
this.  It  would  be  difficult  to  cite  authorities  where  a  fact 
has  been  the  result  of  a  variety  of  fragmentary  evidence. 
Such  has  often  been  the  case.  They  will  be  furnished  when 
necessary. 

The  following  works  have  been  consulted : 

NORTH  CAROLINA  WORKS: 

Colonial  and  State  Records,  Regimental  Histories,  Foote's  Sketches, 
Moore,  Wheeler,  Hawks,  Williamson,  Jones's  Defense,  Lawson, 
Wiley,  Grimes's  Notes,  Sketches  of  Eastern  Carolina,  Handbooks  of 
Department  of  Agriculture,  Moore's  Roster,  Roster  of  North  Caro- 
lina Troops  in  Spanish-American  War,  Acts  of  Legi-lature,  North 
Carolina  Booklet,  Report  of  Fraud  Commission,  Publications  of 
Historical  Society,  Letters  of  General  Grimes,  Life  of  Vance,  etc. 

HISTORIES  OF  UNITED  STATES: 

Stephens,  Willard,  Lee,  Grimsha\v,  and  others. 

MISCELLANEOUS  : 

County  Records,  Congressional  Directory,  United  St;ites  Government 
Reports  of  the  Civil  War  (Land  and  Naval),  Dictionary  of  Ameri- 
can History,  Census  Reports,  Files  of  Newspapers,  Almanacs,  and 
numerous  Personal  and  Private  Letters  and  Papers  of  the  author. 


CilAl'TKKONK. 


EARLY  MENTION  01  TIIK  TAU  AND  PAMLICO  RIVKIC  Coi:x- 
TKY — LAWSOX  ix  PITT — THE  TUSCAKOKA  IXDIANS — IN- 
DIAN LOCALITIES — KING  BLOUXT. 

As  early  as  1(!M  mention  is  found  ot'  the  I'amlico  River. 
Tlie  commission  of  Captain  Henry  Wilkinson,  as  Governor 
of  Albemarle,  issued  that  year,  gave  him  jurisdiction  over 
"that  part;  of  the  province  of  Carolina,,  that  lyes  five  miles 
south  of  the  river  Pemplico,  and  from  thence  to  Virginia." 
Settlers  were  slow  to  cross  the  Albemarle  Sound,  and  as  the 
country  of  the  Pamlico  was  possessed  of  so  few  good  harbors, 
in  1(>!)4  Governor  Archdalo  was  instructed  to  offer  moderate 
quit  rents  and  taxes  to  settlers  there.  These  inducements 
must  have  had  some  effect,  for  in  1G9G  the  country  had  enough 
inhabitants  to  bo  erected  into  the  county  of  Bath. 

How  far  up  Tar  River  any  settlement  had  been  made  is 
unknown.  The  whole  river  was  then  known  as  the  Pamlico, 
and  what  is  now  Pitt  County  was  then  a  part  of  the  Pamlico 
country.  Traders  had  no  doubt  ascended  to  ihe  head  of 
navigation  and  a  stray  squatter  may  have  been  settled  on  its 
banks.  Pirates  were  plentiful  in  Carolina  waters  and  its 
rivers  and  harbors  often  furnished  them  safety,  after  a  return 
from  cruising  on  the  high  seas 

In  1700,  John  Lawson,  an  English  surveyor,  arrived  at 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  began  a  tour  of  survey  and 
exploration.  About  1704  he  reached  what  is  now  Pitt 
County.  He  came  from  the  central  part  of  the  province  and 
entered  Pitt  County  from  Greene.  He  must  have  entered 
somewhere  in  the  Marlboro  section,  and  then  have  followed 
an  Indian  trail,  on  and  across  Contentnea  Creek,  a  little 
below  Tyson's  bridges,  on  the  Forbes  and  Move  lands,  to  the 
Randolph  landing  on  Tar  River.  There  an  Indian,  who  had 
hidden  a  canoe,  took  them  all  across.  Lawson  then  went 
2 


18 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


down  the  river,  by  land,  about  six  miles,  where  he  spent  the 
night  under  a  very  large  spreading  oak.  During  the  night 
there  was  a  very  heavy  snow  storm.,  with  thunder  and  light- 
ning. He  states  that  he  was  then  twelve  miles  from  the 
English  settlements,  and  that  about  half  way  he  crossed  a 


l.Nl^i.'l.N      JjWV_.-A  1  IV^-N  . 

From  an  old  map  by  Eman  Bowen,  now  in  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State 


From  pen  sketch  by  II.  T.   K.,   1'JO'J 


very  deep  creek,""  "and  came  safe  to  Mr.  Richard  Smith's, 
of  Pampticough." 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  Tar  River  is  undoubtedly  un- 
known.     Many  writers  are  inclined  to  "Taw''  as  the  original. 

'Tranter's  Creek. 


INDIAN   VII. LACK 


SKKTCHKS    OF     I'ITT    (Ol'-NTY.  ~2\ 

Hawks  thought  its  Indian  name  "Torpcco."  It  was  often 
spelled  uTau.v  How  it  became  "Tar"  is  equally  unknown. 
Many  claim  it  a  corruption  of  "Taw"  or  'Tan."  Ilawk^ 
says  it  is  a  corruption  of  the  iirst  syllable  of  Torpoco  and 
should  bo  written  and  spelled  "Tor."  That  its  meaning  was 
health  is  doubtful.  At  what  time  it  became  known  as  Tar  i> 
too,  unknown. 

At  this  time  the  Tusraroras  were  the  most  numerous  In- 
dians in  Eastern  Carolina.  Their  principal  towns  were  on 
the  Big  Content nea.  and  Pitt  County  was,  in  part,  somewhat 
their  frontier.  Those  frontier  Indians  lived  on  such  terms 
with  the  whites  that  in  the  bloody  Tuscarora  War  of  1711, 
they  remained  friendly  and  gave  some  aid  to  the  white?. 
But  the  whites  felt  the  fury  of  the  enraged  Indians  and  near 
800  were  massacred  in  a  most  cruel  and  brutal  manner. 
It  is  tradition  that  the  house  of  John  Porter,  at  the  head  of 
Chocowinity  Bay.  was  the  first  attacked.  In  1712,  Tom 
Blunt,  a  half  breed  and  a  minor  chief  and  five  other  subor- 
dinate chiefs,  who  had  taken  little  part  in  the  war,  made  a 
treaty  with  Governor  Pollock,  by  which  they  gave  up  all 
right  to  hunt  below  Bear  Creek  and  made  war  with  the 
English  against  the  other  hostile  Indians, 

About  two  miles  above  Bear  Creek,  on  the  General  Grimes 
farm,  was  an  Indian  fort,  which  was  known  as  Indian  Fort 
Branch.  About  the  fort  was  a  field  of  about  ten  acres,  cleared 
by  the  Indians.  This  ten  acres  is  now7  a  part  of  a  seventy-five- 
acre  field  and  is  still  in  cultivation.  Ucohuerunt,  on  Tar 
River,  was  one  of  Blunt's  chief  towns.  Uneray  was  his  upper 
town.  The  location  of  King  Blunt's  Town  is  very  uncertain. 
On  an  early  map  of  Indian  locations,  Ocohn.eru.nt  is  shown  on 
the  west  side  of  Tar  River,  apparently  several  miles  above 
Greenville.  It  is  said  that  there  was  an  Indian  town  about 
where  Old  Sparta  now  is  and  that  Town  Creek  got  its  name 
from  this.  On  the  same  old  map  is  shown  "Ooneroy,"  about 
where  Fishing  Creek  empties  into  the  river,  or  some  above 
that  place.  This  may  have  been  King  Blunt's  Upper  Town, 


~2'2  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

"Uneray."  King  Blunt's  Old  Town  must  have  been  on  the 
west  side  of  Tar  River,  near  Penny  Hill,  perhaps  on  the  Gov- 
ernor Elias  Carr  plantation  or  about  Old  Sparta.  Tradition 
gives  Mabry's  Bridge,  across  Fishing  Creek  or  a  little  above, 
as  the  lacation  of  an  Indian  town,  probably  Urenay. 

Just  over  in  Edgecombe  from  Penny  Hill  is  a  place  of 
woods  known  as  "Indian  Ridge,"  and  there  are  evidences  of 
Indian  occupation  of  the  vicinity  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 
In  Bethel  Township  are  many  evidences  of  Indian  habitation. 
Tradition  says  there  was  an  Indian  cam])  or  town  on  the  old 
James  homestead,  right  near  Grindool.  A  mile  or  two  west 
of  Grindool  have  been  found  many  Indian  relics,  among  them 
pottery  in  large  broken  pieces,  arrow  heads,  etc.  Indian 
Well  Swamp  was  a  favorite  watering  place  of  the  Indians. 
All  along  its  banks  were  water  holes,  dug  by  the  Indians.  At 
its  head  there  was  in  earlier  times,  a  large  pond,  always 
full  of  water,  and  this  was  known  as  "Indian  Well/'  It 
took  its  name  from  this  pond  and  these  holes  or  wells.  Just 
above  the  junction  of  Clay  Root  Swam])  and  Swift  Creek 
was  an  Indian  town.  Many  relics  have  been  found  in  that 
section,  including  pottery.,  arrow  heads,  tomahawks  and  vari- 
ous others.  There, are  also  indications  that  on  the  Arthur 
Forbes  place,  about  three  miles  above  Greenville,  there  was 
once  an  Indian  town  or  cam]).  Many  relics  have  been  found 
in  Carolina  township  near  the  Marl  in  line.  In  other  parts 
of  the  County,  there  are  evidences  of  Indian  towns  or  camps 
in  the  far  past. 

After  the  Tuscarora  war.  most  of  those  Indians  went  north 
and  joined  the  Five  Xations  in  Xew  York.  Blunt  and  some 
who  had  been  faithful  to  the  Knglish  remained,  lie  was  made 
their  king  «nd  given  land.-  between  the  Xense  and  Tar  rivers 
and  above  Bear  Creek.  Thus  with  peace  restored  and  no  In- 
dians to  fear,  settlements  began  to  multiply  and  grow  up 
along  Tar  River  and  other  streams. 


SKETCHES    OK    1'ITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TWO. 


DUVALL  SETTLES  AT  MOUNT  CALVERT — KING  BLOUNT 
HELPED — "BLACK  BEARD,"  OR  TEACH — KING  BLOUNT 
GIVEN  LAND  IN  BERTIE — OTHER  SETTLEMENTS  ALONG 
TAR  RIVER — GEORGE  MOVE  AND  THE  INDIAN — EDWARD 
SALTER — EDOECOMBE — TAK — PKECI NCTS  MADE  COUN- 
TIES. 

Tho  first  man  to  "patent"  land  in  what  is  DOW  Pitt  County, 
was  Lewis  Duvall.  It  was  at  or  very  near  the  present  Boyd's 
Ferry  and  he  named  it  "Mount  Calvert  and  Mount  Pleas- 
ant." That  was  in  1714.  That  year  and  the  next  he  pat- 
ented 1,648  acres,  in  three  tracts.  Duvall  died,  and  some 
years  later  his  daughter  sold  the  land  to  Edward  Salter,  who 
had  settled  at  "Tuscarora,"  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
F.  C.  Saunders. 

The  Tuscarora  war  ended  in.  1715,  and  as  one  of  the  aids 
returned  King  Blunt  for  his  help,  he  was  given  one  hundred 
bushels  of  corn  out  of  the  "Public!*  Store." 

During  these  years  the  pirate  Teach,  or  "Black  Beard,"  was 
a  frequenter  of  Carolina  waters.  A  sister,  Susie  White,  lived 
near  Boyd's  Ferry,  on  the  Grimes  farm.  Tradition  says  that 
Teach  very  often  visited  her.  When  he  would  return  from 
a  cruise  and  wanted  to  take  a  rest  or  vacation,  he  would  visit 
his  sister.  Not  far  away,  in  the  lowgrounds,  stands  a  cyp- 
ress, once  famed  as  the  lookout  of  Teach.  It  was  known  as 
"Table  Top,"  being  much  taller  than  any  of  the  surrounding 
trees  and  had  a  large  flat  top,  very  thick.  Into  its  body  were 
driven  spikes,  or  were  cut  notches,  so  that  it  was  not  difficult 
to  climb.  From  its  top  could  be  had  a  splendid  view  of  the 
river  to,  and  below  Washington.  There  Teach  resorted  to 
see  if  the  river  was  clear  of  a  hostile  boat,  or  to  watch  them, 
and  then  act  according  as  circumstances  demanded.  A  few 
years  ago  a  storm  broke  off  the  top  of  this  cypress,  but  the 
body  is  still  standing. 


20  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

Many  and  wonderful  are  the  tales  told  of  Teaclrs  buried 
treasure  in  this  section,  and  almost  as  many  are  the  attempts 
that  have  been  made  to  find  it.  In  the  lands  on  both  sides 
of  the  river  many  a  hole  has  been  dug,  but  there  is  no  record 
of  the  treasure  being  found.  It  has  not  been  so  very  long  ago 
that  the  grave  of  Susie  White  was  disturbed  by  unknown 
midnight  treasure  seekers. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Indians  in  South  Carolina  seemed  to 
have  excited  the  fears  of  King  Blunt  and  his  Indians  that 
they  might  suffer,  and  "fearing  harm  on  account  of  the 
Indian  War  in  1717,"  they  asked  a  settlement  on  the  Koanoke 
River  and  were  given  53,000  acres  of  land  in  Bertie  County, 
to  which  they  soon  moved.  There  they  lived  many  years, 
King  Tom  Blunt  being  succeeded  by  his  son  James.  Later 
they  removed  to  Xew  York,  but  still  held  their  lands  in  Ber- 
tie and  long  received  rents  for  them. 

Settlements  continued  to  grow  along  the  river.  In  the 
next  few  years  they  had  even  passed  beyond  the  Pitt  limits 
and  above  was  rapidly  being  settled.  Capt.  John  Spier  set- 
tled at  Red  Banks,  and  it  is  said  there  was  a  warehouse 
there  as  early  as  1725  for  the  inspection  of  tobacco.  George 
Move  had  settled  below  Pactolns,  and  we  find  that  this  year 
he  made  complaint  to  the  Governor's  Council,  at  Edenton, 
that  an  Indian,  belonging  to  King  Bhmfs  town,  had  fired 
into  his  house  and  wounded  two  of  his  children.  The  Coun- 
cil found  that  as  the  Indian  was  drunk  and  had  .no  malice, 
and  that  as  the  children  were  likely  to  do  well,  he  should  be 
fined  twelve  buckskins  and  twelve  doe  skins,  to  he  paid 
Robert  West,  collector,  for  George  Move.  This  was  in  May. 
and  the  skins  were  to  be  paid,  in  August.  Then  the  Indian 
was  to  be  given  back  his  gun.  Move  complained  at  tliG 
October  sitting  of  the  Council  that  the  fine  had  not  been  paid, 
and  the  Indian  was  ordered  to  appear  before  the  Council. 

Settlers  were  now  pushing  into  the  interior.  In  1727 
Robert  Williams  bought,  from  the  Karl  of  Granville  all  the 
lands  on  the  south  side  of  Tar  River,  between  Otter's  and 


SKETCHES    OK     IMTT     COUNTY.  Z< 

Tyson's  Creeks,  extending  several  miles  inland.  Settlements 
had  become  many  higher  up  the  country,  and  in  17^50  the 
people  between  the  Roanoko  River  and  Contentnea  Crock, 
above  what  is  now  Pitt  County,  petitioned  to  form  the  pre- 
cinct of  Kdgecombe. 

Edward  Suiter  was  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  Peace  for 
Beaufort    Precinct   in    IT'il.      'The  same  year  he  was  a  mem- 


EARLY  SETTLERS  ALONG  TAR  RIVER  AND  PROBABLE  ROUTE  OF 

JOHN'  LAWSON  THROUGH  THE  COUNTY,  1704. 

From  pen  sketch  by  II.  T.  K.,   I'JO'.I. 

ber  of  the  Lower  House  of  the  Assembly.  At  this  session  he 
was  one  of  the  committee  to  confer  with  the  Committee  of 
the  Upper  House,  on  the  bill  to  ascertain  and  regulate  tin; 
payment  of  quit  rents  and  fees  of  the  officers  of  the  gov- 
ernment. 

In  ]7o2  Governor  Burrington  established  the  precinct  of 
Edgecombe,  it  being  all  that  territory  west  of  a  line  begin- 
ning at  the  mouth  of  Conoconaro  Creek  on  Roanoke  River, 
and  thence  in  a  straight  line  down  to  Kinc;  Bhmt's  old 


2b  SKETCHES    Ol'    PITT    COUNTY. 

town,  on  Tar  River,  then  continuing  to  Xeuse'  River,  and 
then  to  the  northeast  branch  of  the  Cape  Fear  River.  Later 
in  the  same  year,  upon  petition  of  the  people,  the  line  was 
changed  to  run  down  the  Roanoke  River  to  Hoskin's  line 
at  Rainbow  Banks,  and  then  in.  a  straight  line  to  King 
Blunt's  old  town  on  Tar  River.  Justices  of  the  Peace  for 
Edgecombe  were  appointed  by  the  Governor,  and  it  sent  rep- 
resentatives to  the  Assembly,  but  the  Assembly  refused  to 
concur  with  the  Governor  in  establishing  the  precinct.  It 
killed  the  bill  for  establishing  it  in  February,  1735,  though 
that  section  continued  to  be  known  as  Edgecombe. 

Fdward  Salter  was  again  a  member  of  the  Assembly  for 
Beaufort  in  the  year  1734. 

Tar  was  now  an  important  article  of  export,  and  JSTorth 
Carolina  produced  more  than  all  the  other  colonies.  Pitt 
County  was  a  forest  of  the  long  leaf  pines  and  furnished  a 
large  share  of  this  product.  The  inhabitants  of  Tar  River 
numbered  twenty  families  in  1735,  and  it  is  said  that  1,000 
hogsheads  of  tobacco  were  raised  in  the  county  at  this  time. 

In  1738,  the  old  division  of  three  counties,  Albemarle, 
Bath  and  Clarendon,  was  abolished  and  each  of  the  precincts 
became  counties.  Bath  County  had  comprised  four  pre- 
cincts— Beaufort,  Craven,  Carteret  and  Hyde.  Beaufort 
comprised  about  what  is  now  Beaufort  and  Pitt  counties, 
and  the  court-house  was  at  Bath. 


•  KKTCIIKS    OF     PITT     C'OFNTY.  29 


<   IIAI'TKR  TIIliEE. 

EIHJKCOMBK  COUNTY — TOHACCO  JNSPKCTION  ,\1  ILITAKY 
CKNSUS — JOHN  HARDY — Huun  McAi>K.\,  A  PRKSHY- 
T  KKI  AN  PRKACIIKR — His  TRIP — TFLI.S  OF  II  is  MKKT- 
INGS. 

After  several  years  the  people  of  Edgecombe  Precinct  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  Edgecombe  County  established  by  the 
Assembly  of  1741.  As  its  southeastern  boundary  was  the 
northwest  boundary  of  Beaufort,  and  later  became  the  boun- 
dary of  Pitt,  it  is  of  interest.  Jt  began  on  Roanoke  River 
at  Jenkins  Henry's  upper  corner  tree,  from  there  a  straight 
lino  along  the  lines  of  Tyrrell  and  Beaufort  counties  to  the 
mouth  of  Cheek's  Mill  Creek  on  Tar  River;  then  from 
across  the  river  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  in  a  straight 
line  unto  the  middle  grounds  between  the  Tar  and  Xeuse 
rivers.  At  this  time  it  was  more  settled  than  Pitt. 

The  importance  of  tobacco  as  a  staple  of  commerce,  and  no 
doubt  the  weakness  of  many  to  ship  inferior  tobacco  as  good, 
led  to  the  establishment  of  warehouses  for  its  inspection  by 
the  authorities.  An  act  of  1743  provided  for  two  ware- 
houses for  Beaufort  County,  one  at  Bath  and  one  at  Red 
•Banks.  The  rivers  and  creeks  were  about  the  only  means  of 
transportation  and  communication.  Their  importance  was 
realized  so  fully  that  an  act  of  1745  provided  for  Commis- 
sioners to  "make,  mend  and  repair  all  road-,  br  id  ires,  cuts 
and  water  courses."  For  Beaufort  County,  mi  the  north 
side  of  Tar  River,  above  Tranter's  Creek  to  the  Edgecombe 
line,  Seth  Pilkinton,  George  Move,  Sr.,  William  Mace.  John 
Burney  and  James  Barrow,  were  the  Commissioners :  on 
the  south  side,  from  Chocowinity  to  the  Edgecombe  line,  they 
were  Edward  Salter.  Thomas  Tyson  and  John  Ilardee.  In 
1752  their  duties  were  enlarged  to  include  dearinir  rivers 
and  creeks  for  navigation. 


SKKTCI1KS    OK     I'iTT    COUNTY.  ',  j  1 

A  military  census  was  taken  in  1751  by  order  of  Governor 
Dobbs.  .Beaufort  showed  up  with  one  regiment  of  .-even 
companies,  with  a  total  of  587  men.  Oilieers  recommended 
were,  Colonel,  John  Jjoyd ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  William  Ca- 

ruthers  ;  Major,  Buck;  ('aj)tain,  John  JIardee. 

John  Alderson  was  recommended  for  Captain  in  place  of  Cap- 
tain Xewsome.  The  lirst  three  officers  were  promotions  of 
one  grade  each.  It  was  shown  that  there  were  no  Indians  in 
the  county  and  also  no  arms.  In  the  public  storehouse  was 
about  fifty  pounds  of  powder  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  of  large  shot. 

John  Ilardee  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  this  year. 

The  next  year  the  returns  of  the  militia  and  taxables 
showed:  Militia,  080:  taxables — whites,  771;  blacks,  507; 
total,  1,383;  a  gain  of  14  whites  and  18  blacks.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  colony  at  this  time  was,  by  returns,  about 
45,000,  but  more  than  80,000  were  claimed. 

Preachers  were  scarce  in  the  colony  this  early.  Hugh 
McAden,  the  first  Presbyterian  missionary  in  the  colony, 
visited  this  section  this  year.  lie  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  licensed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Presbytery.  lie 
came  to  Western  Carolina  early  in  this  year.  After  much 
travel,  he  went  to  Wilmington  and  from  there  came  to  this 
section  through  Dobbs  County.  Beginning  with  his  Journal 
in  that  county  the  following  is  an  extract: 

''The  next  morning,  set  out  upon  my  journey  for  Pam- 
lico,  and  rode  about  ten  miles,  to'  Major  McWain's.  where  I 
had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  and  conversing  with  Governor 
Dobbs,  who  is  a  very  sociable  gentleman/' 

That  night  he  lodged  at  Fetter's  Ferry,*  on  Contentney, 
about  twenty  miles,  it  being  too  late  to  go  farther.  The 
next  day  he  rode  about  forty  miles  to  Salter's  Ferry  on  Tar 
River.  The  next  day.  being  Saturday,  he  came  to  Thomas 
Little's,  where  he  remained  over  Sabbath.  April  1th.  This 
man  had  not  heard  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  the  twentv- 

*  This  place  was  later  known  as  Blount's  Ferry;  then  Bell's  Ferry,  and  is  now  Grifton. 


SKK'IVJIKS    OF    1'ITT    COUJN'TY.  33 

eight  years  lie  had  lived  in  Carolina,  and  t<>ok  the  opportu- 
nity of  sending  around  for  his  neighbors,  and  collected  a  con- 
gregation ;  and  kept  him  till  Wednesday  to  preach  again.  Of 
this  meeting  he  said,  "I  found  some  few  amongst  them  that 
1  trust  are  God's  dear  children,  who  seemed  much  refreshed 
by  my  coming." 

On  (he  7th  day  of  April,  Wednesday,  after  the  sermon, 
ho  rode  to  .Mr.  Barrow's,  about  five  miles,  and  the  next  day, 
about  five  or  six  miles,  to  Red  Banks,  "where  I  preached  to 
a  pretty  large  company  of  various  sorts  of  people,  but  fewer 
Presbyterians.  In  the  evening,  rode  up  the  river,  ten  miles, 
to  Mr.  Mace's,  who  is  a  man  of  considerable  note,  and  a 
Presbyterian."  Here  he  remained  till  Sabbath,  the  llth, 
and  preached  in  the  neighborhood. 

On  Tuesday,  April  13th,  he  set  out  homeward,  and  rode 
twenty  miles,  to  Mr.  Toole's,  on  Tar  River;  this  man  he 
describes  as  unhappy  in  his  notions  of  unbelief.  On 
Wednesday  he  rode  thirty  miles,  to  Edgecombe  Court  House. 

The  increase  in  the  production  of  tobacco  made  several 
more  warehouses  necessary  for  its  inspection,  and  in  1758 
warehouses  were  established  at  all  the  principal  places  in 
the  colony.  Those  in  Beaufort  were  now  Bath,  William 
Spier's,  Travers,  Grist's,  Tranter's  Creek,  Chocowinity, 
Congletoii's,  Red  Banks,  Bloimt's  Creek,  Mill's,  Sailer's, 
Durham's  Creek,  and  South  Dividing  Creek. 

Those  in  that  part  now  Pitt  were  Spiers,  below  Red  Banks ; 
Grists,  on  Bear  Creek;  Tranter's  Creek,  near  its  mouth;  Con- 
gleton's, near  the  mill  on  Tranter's  Creek ;  and  Salters,  now 
Boyd's  Ferry.  Travers  was  on  Tranter's  Creek  near  its 
mouth. 


34  SKETCHES   <M     1'ITT    COUNTY. 

\ 

\, 

CHAPTER  EOUR. 


Be  METIIIXG  ABOUT   EAKLY   SETTLORS — ETTEKING  LAND — : 

QriT-REXTS BUILDING    REGULATIONS OVERSEERS    AND 

SLAVES — MARKING  STOCK — THE  ESTABLISHED  CHURCH- 
WILD  ANIMALS — LIQUOR  QUEST/ON — How  PEOPLE 
LIVED — COURT-HOUSES. 

'"The  early  settlers  took  up  the  richest  and  nearest  lauds 
on  the  rivers  and  navigable  streams.  Laws  were  passed  to 
prevent  one  man  from  taking  too  much  land  on  the  rivers,. 
to  the  exclusion  of  others.  So  he  was  allowed  only  640!  acres 
in  one  tract,  and  not  another  in  two  miles  of  this,  unless  by 
special  warrant.  They  lived  principally  on  the  streams  and 
every  family  had  its  boat  of  some  kind  for  travel  and.  trans- 
portation of  produce.  To  prevent  non-residents  entering  land 
for  speculation,  it  was  required  that  one  should  reside  in  the- 
province  two  years  before  he  could  sell  his  lands  and  rights. 
For  entering  lands,  a  quit  rent  of  one  shilling  for  every  fifty 
acres  was  required,  and  three  years  were  allowed  for  build- 
ing a  habitable  house,  clearing,  fencing  and  planting  at  least 
•one  acre. 

The  Council  at  its  March,  1726,  meeting  passed  the  fol- 
lowing: ''For  saving  of  lands  for  the  future,  every  house 
shall  be  fifteen  feet  long,  ten  feet  Broad,  Made  tight  and  habi- 
table of  Clapboards  or  Logs  squared,  with  a  roof  and  chim- 
ney-placo  and  a  Door-place.  The  whole  acre  cleared  well,  the 
major  part  of  it  broke  up  and  planted  with  either  fruite, 
tree-  or  grain."  Those  who  remember  the  log  cabin,  with 
its  day-daubed  walls,  board  roof,  door  with  wooden  hinges. 
square  In 'le  in  the  wall  for  a  window,  and  its  stick  or  dirt 
diitiincv.  have  a  good  idea  of  the  houses  of  many  of  the 
early  settlers  and  of  the  homes  of  slaves  and  their  overseers. 
Tin-  overseers  were  often  bond-servants  and  the  slaves  were 

runes'   Note"  <m  North  Carolina,  a-  !>  al><>  much  of  '.he- 


SKETCH  KS    OF    I'ITT    COUNTY.  35 

negroes,  mnlattoes  and  Indians.  Land,  slaves  and  stock 
comprised  the  wealth  of  the  planter.  lie  had  little  use  for 
gold  and  silver,  but  to  purchase  slaves. 

Horses  were  branded  and  cattle  and  hogs'  were  marked  in 
their  ears,  as  is  the  custom  to-day.  For  altering  or  defacing 
brands  or  misinarking  of  stock  there  was  a  penalty  of  ten 
pounds  proclamation  money  over  and  above  the  value  of  the 
animal,  and  "forty  lashes  on  his  bare  back  well  laid  on ;  and 
for  the  second  offense,  in  addition  to  the  price  mentioned, 
standing  in  the  pillory  two  hours  and  branding  in  the  left 
hand  with  a  red  hot  iron  with  the  letter  UT"  was  added. 
Slaves,  for  the  first  offense,  had  both  ears  cut  off  and  were 
publicly  whipped,  and  for  the  second  offense  suffered  death. 

The  Church  of  England  (Episcopal)  was  established  by 
law,  though  other  forms  were  allowed.  In  fact  there  was 
freedom  of  worship.  An  act  of  1705  required  that  to  sit  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  in  Carolina,  the  member  should  have 
received  the  Sacrament  according  to  the  Rites  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  less  than  twelve  months,  or  show  good  reason 
why  he  had  not,  or  swear  that  sueh  action  was  from  no  dis- 
like for  that  church,  and  that  he  had  not  been  in  communion 
with  any  other  church  within  that  time.  If  he  refused  to 
thus  qualify  himself,  his  seat  was  declared  vacant  and  an 
election  ordered  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Wolves,  bears,  panthers,  wild  cats,  foxes  and  many  other 
wild  animals  were  very  numerous  and  did  much  damage  to 
crops  and  domestic  animals.  Beginning  with  1705,  many 
acts  for  destroying  these  were  passed.  They  wore  called 
"'vermin"  in  those  act?.  Bounties  were  offered  for  them. 
Squirrels  did  considerable  damage,  were  very  numerous,  and 
many  acts  were  passed  for  destroying  them. 

The  liquor  question  also  troubled  the  colony.  The  law 
was  similar  to  that  of  today,  requiring  license,  and  allowing 
a  man  to  sell  "cyder  or  other  liquors,  the  produce  of  his  own 
plantation,  at  any  time  hereafter  by  full  and  Lawful  mea- 
sures (the  same  not  being  drunk  in  the  cellar,  house  or  plan- 


,j(>  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUXTY. 

tation").  The  prices  for  ''I!) rink,  .Dyet,  Lodging.,  Fodder. 
Provender,  Corn  or  Pasturage"  was  fixed  by  the  Justices 
of  the  County  Court. 

The  poor  landowners  were  reduced  to  the  primitive  meth- 
ods of  the  Indians,  using  stone  hand  mortars  for  pounding  or 
grinding  their  grain,  but  the  better  class  used  hand  mills 
brought  from  England.  JS'ails  were  made  in  blacksmith 
shops  and  all  ironware  was  brought  from  England. 

Each  large  planter  had  his  own  saw  pit,  carpenter,  cooper, 
blacksmith,  tanner,  etc.  He  raised  wool  and  cotton  enough 
to  clothe  his  own  people,  carded,  spun,  and  wove  his  own 
cloth  and  made  his  own  clothes.  Each  such  plantation  was  a 
miniature  republic  in  itself,  raising  its  own  beef,  pork, 
horses,  grain,  tobacco,  wool,  cotton,  gardens  and  other  neces- 
sities, having  its  own  mechanics,  manufacturers,  laborers 
and  rulers.  Alany  of  these  planters  owned  vessels  that  traded 
with  England,  the  \Yest  Indies  and  sometimes  with  Europe. 
Slaves  made  tar  and  turpentine  in  the  spring  and  summer, 
and  cleared  land  in  the  fall  and  winter;  the  women  and  chil- 
dren did  most  of  the  farm  work.  One  slave  on  a  plantation 
was  allowed  to  carry  a  gun  for  the  protection  of  stock  and  to 
kill  game  for  the  table.  When  it  became  necessary  to  exe- 
cute a  slave,  his  owner  was  paid  his  value  as  assessed  by  the 
Justices  and  allowed  by  the  Assembly.  A  planter  starting 
life  with  mode>t  beginnings  could,  by  the  increase  of  his 
stock,  slaves  and  buying  more  land,  which  was  cheap,  soon 
become  wealthy. 

New  precincts  or  counties  were  formed  as  the  increasing 
population  demanded.  A.ll  court-houses  built  in  the 
various  precincts  or  counties  were  required  to  be  not  less 
than  twenty-four  feet  long  and  sixteen  feet  wide.  Prisons 
and  stork-  were  also  provided  for  the  punishment  of  those 
convicted  of  cri me.-. 

Such  were  son  if  of  the  rules  and  custom,  laws  and  govern- 
ment, and  manner.-  and  conditions  in  the  province  of  Caro- 
lina about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  centurv,  under  which 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  37 

our  forefathers  were  building  up  this  great  Commonwealth. 
And  the  pioneers  of  Pitt  County  were  bearing  their  share  of 
those  burdens,  reaping  the  attendant  blessings  and  building 
for  future  generations. 


462159 


38  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  FIVE. 


HIGH  LIFE — EDUCATION — MARRIAGE — DOMESTIC  LIFE — 
MAIL — AMUSEMENTS  AND  PLEASURE — "HIGH  BETTY 
MARTIN" — THE  CHILDREN. 

Among  the  planters  were  some  who  brought  the  customs 
and  manners  of  their  English  homes,  and  they  lived  as  much 
after  the  style  of  their  former  homes  as  conditions  would 
admit.  Some,  who  came  as  officials,  brought  their  friends, 
retainers  and  tenants.  Many  of  them  belonged  to  the  gentry 
and  were  highly  educated.  They  had  good  houses  and  were 
supplied  with  many  conveniences,  unknown  to  the  poorer 
classes.  They  vied  with  each  other  in  having  the  best  homes 
and  furnishings. 

Educational  advantages  were  very  poor.  The  rich  were 
educated  in  England  or  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  or 
Charleston,  South  Carolina  ;  some  were  taught  at  home.  The 
girls  were  generally  taught  by  their  mothers  or  placed  with 
those  who  undertook  to  educate  them.  The  poorer  classes 
had  so  i'ew  advantages  that  few  learned  much.  There  were 
no  common  schools  as  we  have.  Servants  were  sometimes 
taught  to  read  and  write  by  their  mistresses. 

The  rich  got  their  clothes  mostly  from  England,  or  other 
colonies,  and  dressed  well.  All  kinds  of  manufacturing  in 
the  colonies  was  discouraged  by  England,  and  the  hand-loom 
was  long  the  only  means  of  making  cloth. 

At  first  no  one  but  a  minister  of  1he  Church  of  England  was 
allowed  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  but  owing  to 
the  scarcity  of  those  ministers  laws  were  passed  giving  others 
that  right  al-o.  There  were  laws  against  the  marriage  of 
Indian-  and  whites  and  of  whites  and  negroes  or  nmlattoes, 
yet  Ihesc  latter  .-eem  to  have  been  rather  frequent,  especially 
between  whites  and  Indians. 

Dome-tic  life  was  much  like  that  of  ante-bellum  days  of 
slavery,  in  the  homes  of  the.  rich.  The  men  attended  to  the 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  39' 

affairs  of  the  farm  or  other  business  while  the  women,  with 
a  lot  of  servants,  did  the  work  of  the  house,  weaving,  spin- 
ning, sewing,  etc.  It  was  an  independent,  self-reliant  life, 
that  grew  and  trained  the  heroes  of  later  history. 

There  were  at  this  time  no  mail  facilities.  Letters  and 
other  mail  came  at  any  time  there  came  any  one  to  bring 
them.  They  were  dispatched  in  the  same  manner.  As  most 
of  the  planters  lived  on  the  rivers,  mail  was  often  brought  or 
carried  by  some  chance  boatman.  Official  letters  were  re- 
quired to  be  forwarded  from  plantation  to  plantation,  arid 
so  on  to  the  destination,  a  severe  penalty  being  prescribed  for 
any  one  who  caused  delay.  The  General  Assembly  provided 
for  payment  of  the  costs  thus  incurred  to  those  who  for- 
warded such  mail. 

Amusements  and  pleasure  were  not  as  rare  as  the  reader 
might  suspect.  There  were  games  and  plays  and  outdoor 
amusements  in  many  forms.  Indoors,  there  were  music, 
cards,  dancing  and  many  games ;  outdoors,  there  were  hunt- 
ing, fishing,  bowling,  perhaps  horse  racing,  cock-fighting  and 
other  things.  Boating  and  sailing  were  also  much  indulged 
in.  Singing  was  also  an  accomplishment  possessed  by  many 
to  a  high  degree.  There  were  social  duties  that  took  some 
time  of  the  more  wealthy.  Some  of  their  social  functions 
wTould  have  done  credit  to  a  later  period.  In  most  of  these 
pleasures  and  amusements  there  was  little  distinction  of  class, 
a  common  safety  making  all  neighbors,  the  richer  and  the 
poorer  sharing  alike  in  them.  There  were  many  social  and 
family  games,  plays  and  dances. 

"High  Betty  Martin"  was  thus  early  a  favorite.  It  came 
to  North  Carolina  from  Maryland,  where  it  was  composed  in 
honor  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin,  grandmother  of  Governor 
Richard  Caswell.  It  ran  thus: 

"High  Betty  Martin,  tip-toe,  tip-toe, 
High  Betty  Martin,  tip-toe  fine: 
She  couldn't  get  a  shoe, 
She  couldn't  get  a  stocking, 


40  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

She  couldn't  get  a  husband 
To   suit   her  mind. 

High  Betty  Martin,  tip-toe,  tip-toe,"  etc. 

The  children  had  their  games,  playing  soldier,  Indian,  ball, 
etc.,  the  girls  having  their  playthings  after  the  manner  of 
to-day,  if  not  up-to-date  as  now.  With  all  its  trials,  troubles 
and  disadvantages,  it  may  be  said  to  have  been  a  life  close  to 
nature,  simple  and  not  so  full  of  hardships,  as  is  generally 
supposed. 


SKETCHES    OF     I' ITT    <OFXTY. 


41 


CJIAPTFR  SIX. 


JOHX  SiMi-sox — PETITION-  TO  DIVIDE  BEAFFOKT  COFXTY— 
PITT     (  'OFXTY    FORMED — BOUNDARIES — ( 'OFKT-HOFSE — 
XAMED     FOR    WILLIAM     PITT — ALEXANDER    STEWART— 
TAXES — JURORS — MINISTERIAL      JEALOUSY — LIN  i:      BE- 
TWEEN   PITT    AND    Bonus — SALTER    AXD    MOYE — RED 
BANKS  FEHUY — MASONIC  LODGE — THE  ASSEMBLY. 

John  Simpson,  who  enino  from  Massachusetts  and  settled 
on  Tar  River,  about  six  miles  below  Greenville,  calling  his 
place  "Chatham/''  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  fur  Beau- 
fort County  in  1700.  The  Assembly  met  at  Xewbern.  On 
Friday,  May  Oth,  a  petition  of  sundry  inhabitants  of  Beau- 


F  L    L    CO 


PITT  COTXTY.  AS   FORMED  1760. 
From  IX-M  skctc-li  !,y   II.  T.   K.,  l',)lo. 


fort  was  jiresented  asking  f<»r  a  divisimi  <»f  the  cnuiity,  savins: 
that  the  county  was  "in  extent  one  hundred  miles  or  more 
and  divided  by  a  boisterous  and  tempestuous  river,"  etc.  A 


42  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

petition  against  di\  iding  the  county  and  declaring  the  above 
untrue,  was  also  presented.  By  a  majority  vote,  the  matter 
was  referred  to  the  next  session  of  the  Assembly,  which  met 
in  November,  the  same  year. 

^November  19th  the  committee  to  examine  the  petitions  for 
the  division  of  Beaufort  County  reported  a  -great  majority 
in  favor  of  the  proposed  division,  and  recommended  it.  John 
Simpson  was  ordered  to  prepare  a  bill  for  such  division, 
which  he  did  the  same  day  and  introduced.  It  provided  for 
erecting  the  "upper  part  of  Beaufort  County  into  a  county 
and  parish,  by  the  name  of  Pitt  County  and  St.  Michael's 
Parish."  The  bill  passed  the  Lower  House  that  day  and  was 
sent  to  the  Upper  House.  On  the  25th  it  passed  the  Upper 
House  and  was  ordered  engrossed. 

It  provided  that  on  and  after  the  first  day  of  January, 
1761,  ''the  upper  part  of  the  said  county  of  Beaufort,  begin- 
ning at  the  line  between  the  said  county  and  Tyrrell,  running 
south,  southwest  to  Cherry's  Run,  where  the  main  road 
crosses  the  said  run ;  thence  down  the  said  run  to  Tranter's 
Creek ;  thence  down  the  said  creek  to  Pamlico  River ;  thence 
down  the  said  river  to  the  Fork  Point,  on -the  south  side  of 
the  said  river;  thence  up  the  Chocowinity  Bay  and  Creek 
to  the  head  thereof;  thence  south,  southwest,  to  the  dividing 
line  of  the  said  county  and  Craven  ;  thence  along  the  dividing 
lines  of  Craven.  Dobbs,  Edgecomb  and  Tyrrel ;  so  that  all  that 
part  of  Beaufort  County  to  the  westward  of  Cherry  Run, 
Chocowinity  Bay  and  Creek,  shall  and  is  hereby  declared  to 
be  a  separate  county  and  parish,  and  shall  be  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Pitt  County  and  St.  Michael's  Parish, 
with  all  and  every  the  rights,  privileges,  benefits  and  advan- 
tages." etc. 

John  Ilardce,  .Jnhn  Simpson,  William  Spier,  George  Moy 
and  Isaac  Biu-k  wore  made  commissioners  for  building  a 
court-house,  prison,  pillory  and  stocks,  on  the  lands  of  John 
Harder,  on  the  «outh  side  <if  Tar  River  near  Hardee's  Chapel. 
A  tax  of  two  shillings  on  each  taxable  poll  in  the  county  was 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  43 

levied  for  two  years,  to  pay  for  the  building  of  the  court- 
house, stocks,  prison  and  pillory.  Courts  were  to  be  held  at 
the  house  of  John  Ilardee  until  a  court-house  could  be  built. 
The  freeholders  of  the  county  were  to  meet  at  his  house  mi 
next  Easter  to  elect  twelve  vestrymen  for  the  county. 

The  county  was  named  in  honor  of  William  Pitt,  the  elder, 
Earl  of  Chatham,  who  was  then  Prime  Minister  of  England, 
and  under  whose  administration  England  was  successful  in 
every  quarter  of  the  globe.  William  Pitt.  Earl  of  Chatham, 
was  born  November  15th,  1708,  and  was  the  son  of  Robert 
Pitt,  Esquire,  of  Cornwall.  He  served  long  in  Parliament, 
was  vice-treasurer  of  Ireland,  treasurer  and  paymaster  of  the 
army,  privy  counsellor,  and  secretary  of  State.  On  the 
downfall  of  the  Rockingham  administration  he  was  ap- 
pointed Lord  Privy  Seal  and  raised  to  the  peerage,  with  the 
title  of  Earl  of  Chatham.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  America 
and  nobly  plead  its  cause  in  Parliament.  While  rising  to 
speak  in  the  House  of  Lords  he  was  stricken  with  a  convulsive 
fit  and" died  about  five  weeks  later,  on  May  llth,  1778.  He 
was  one  of  England's  great  men.  His  second  son,  William, 
was  born  May  28th,  1759,  became  Prime  Minister  of  Eng- 
land in  1783,  and  died  January  23d,  1806.  In  history  he  is 
too  often  confused  with  his  father  and  credited  with  being  the 
friend  of  America,  while  he  did  not  enter  upon  his  career 
until  independence  was  practically  won.  That  John  Simp- 
son was  a  great  admirer  of  Pitt,  and  had  much  to  do  with 
giving  the  county  its  name,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that 
he  named  his  home  "Chatham." 

The  formation  of  Pitt  was  a  blow  to  Beaufort,  whose  peo- 
ple felt  it.  Alexander  Stewart,  missionary  at  Bath,  wrote 
the  next  year  that  his  parish  had  lost  ''the  better  half  of  my 
white  parishioners,  so  that  the  whole  number  of  whites  in 
St.  Thomas'  Parish  is  not  now  quite  1.000.  besides  about  400 
taxable  negroes."' 

A  report  on  Tar  River  about  this  time  said  that  it  was 
navigable  for  about  one  hundred  miles. 


SKKTCIIKS    OK     IMTT    COf.N'J'V.  45 


It  seems  there  were  no  county  commissioners  ;il  that  tine- 
as we  have  to-day,  and  that  the  Assembly  pas>ed  upon  matters 
now  within  their  jurisdiction.  Tbe  formation  of  I'iit  caii-ed 
S(jme  confusion  about  tin-  collection  <>f  taxis,  and  the  Assem- 
bly of  17(5-  allowed  Thomas  Bonner,  late  sheriff  of  Beaufort, 
to  collect  the  taxes  for  17o(>.  The  Assembly  also  released 
John  Brown  from  all  public  duties  and  taxes. 

Pitt  was  in  the  Xew  Bern  Superior  Court  District  and  sent 
six  jurors  to  that  court.  It  seems  that,  the  juries  were  com- 
posed of  twenty-four  men.  The  county  courts  were  held 
quarterly  in  February,  May,  August  and  .November,  and  was 
presided  over  by  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

Pitt  had  no  minister  after  its  separation  from  Beaufort, 
but  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart  continued  to  make  visits.  This 
did  not  satisfy  the  people  and  they  employed  a  Presbyterian 
minister.  There  was  some  friction  between  this  Presbyte- 
rian, Rev.  John  Alexander  and  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart  and  he 
(Rev.  John  Alexander)  left  the  colony,  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart 
warning;  others  that  he  was  ''an  unworthy  person." 

The  Assembly  of  1763  provided 'for  running  the  line  be- 
tween Pitt  and  I)obbs  counties,  which  had  never  been  done. 
Richard  Caswell,  John  Simpson  and  William  Wilson  were 
appointed  commissioners  to  run  it.  It  was  to  begin  from 
''Blount's  Ford  on  Little  Contentney  Creek  to  Luke  White's, 
then  up  the  Middle  Swamp  to  William  Wilson's,  and  from 
thence  to  the  nearest  part  of  Edgecoinb  County." 

The  Governor's  Council  met  at  Wilmington  in  17(51-.  On 
February  2Sth.  Edward  Salter  presented  a  ••remonstrance" 
against  the  "illegal  conduct  in  otlice"  of  -John  llardee,  John 
Tyson.  George  Move  and  Abraham  Tyson.  Justices  of  the 
Peace.  George  Move  thereupon  made  a  counter  '•remon- 
strance" against  Edward  Salter,  who  was  also  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  The  matter  was  referred  to  the  Court  of  the  Jus- 
tices at  Xew  Bern  and  nothing  move  was  heard  of  it. 

Among  the  acts  of  the  Assembly  this  year  were  those  for  a 
ferrv  at  Red  Banks,  for  rinminir  the  line  between  Pitt  and 


40  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

Dobbs  counties  and  for  making  William  Spier's,  Simpson's 
and  Salter's  landings,  places  for  the  inspection  of  tobacco. 

The  tax  returns  for  1765  showed  750  white  men  taxable 
and  429  blacks  and  mulattoes,  male  and  female.  Beaufort's 
return  showed  411  whites  and  476  blacks. 

The  first  Masonic  Lodge  in  ]STorth  Carolina  wras  at  Crown 
Point,  in  Pitt  County.  It  is  not  known  when  it  was  estab- 
lished. In  1766  St.  John's  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts 
issued  a  dispensation  to  Thomas  Cooper,  of  the  Pitt  County 
Lodge,  to  act  as  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  Xorth  Carolina.  Re- 
ports of  this  Lodge  for  the  years  1766  and  1767  are  on  file  in 
the  archives  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  at  Bos- 
ton. The  Greenville  Lodge  now  possesses  a  certificate  of 
membership  of  one,  Clement  ILolliday,  in  that  Crown  Point 
Lodge,  dated  March  27th,  1768. 

Crown  Point  was  an  important  stopping  place  on  the  road 
to  Xewbern.  It  was  just  on  the  south  side  of  Turkey  Cock 
Swamp,  and  its  inn  was  popular  in  colonial  days.  Wil- 
mington claims  to  have  had  a  Masonic  Lodge  as  early  as  1735. 
but  the  proof  is  not  so  conclusive  as  that  of  the  Pitt  Crown 
Point  Lodge. 

The  tax  returns  this  year  showed  70S  whites  and  470  blacks 
and  mulattoes. 

Among  the  acts  uf  the  Assembly  this  year  were  those  for 
preventing  the  wanton  destruction  of  fish  in  Xeuse  and  Tar 
rivers  and  Fishing  Creek;  for  a  post  from  Suffolk.  Vir- 
ginia, to  the  boundary  house  on  the  South  Carolina  line:  and 
the  various  counties  were  made  coextensive  with  the  parishes. 
TOO  pound-  being  appropriated  per  year  for  a  minister,  un- 
der the  Lord  Bishop  of  England.  Bev.  Mr.  Stewart  reported 
tbal  in  one  day  lie  baptized  124  "white  and  black  children" 
in  P i 1 1 . 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY.  47 


CHAPTER  SEVEX. 


COURTS — WILLIAM     MOORE    COMPLAINED    OF     SIMPSON- 
SIMPSON  CENSURED  AND  REPRIMANDED — MAIL  ROUTE — 
REGULATORS — MARCH    TO    ALAMANCE — PITT    COMPANY 
UNDER    CAPTAIN     SALTER — SHERIFF'S    ARREARS — MAR- 
TINBOROUGH. 

Ill  the  organization  of  Superior  Courts,  Pitt  County  had 
been  placed  in  the  district  composed  of  Craven,  Dobbs,  Beau- 
fort, Hyde  and  Pitt.  Court  was  held  twice  a  year  by  the 
Chief  Justice  of  the  colony  and  the  Associate  of  the  district, 
jointly  or  separately.  The  oppression  of  taxation  that  later 
•caused  the  trouble  between  Governor  Tryon  and  the  Regula- 
tors was  beginning  in  this  part  of  the  colony. 

In  the  Assembly  on  November  20th,  1768,  John  Ashe  pre- 
sented the  affidavit  of  William  Moore,  setting  forth  that  he 
was  present  at  the  court-house  in  Pitt  County  on  the  fourth 
Tuesday  in  October,  it  being  a  term  of  the  Inferior  Court,  and 
that  it  was  a  "general  topic  of  discourse''  with  the  Justices 
that  they  could  do  no  business,  and  the  reason  was  that  they 
did  not  want  a  "list  of  taxables  returned  to  the  court  because 
if  it  was  they  were  apprehensive  of  being  without  a  sheriff' 
as  there  was  hardly  any  one  who  would  choose  to  accept  of 
that  office  on  account  of  the  difficulty  and  hazard  that  at- 
tended the  collection  of  y°  taxes.''  The  affidavit  further 
stated  that  the  above  stated  reason  was  given  at  the  court  or 
before  by  John  Simpson  and  John  Tyson. 

A  committee,  with  powers  to  enquire  into  all  the  facts  con- 
nected with  the  matter,  was  appointed,  and  after  diligent  en- 
quiry it  reported  that  facts  set  forth  in  the  affidavit  were 
true.  The  report  was  made  on  the  24th  and  the  House  de- 
clared Mr.  Simpson  guilty  of  a  "high  misdemeanor,  and  that 
'his  conduct  in  preventing  the  sitting  of  the  Inferior  Court  of 
Pitt  County  is  greatly  injurious  to  the  Public  and  detestable 
to  this  Hou^e."  He  was  ordered  to  appear  at  the  bar  of  the- 


48  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

llou>e  (of  which  lie  was  then  a  member)  and  receive  a  "se- 
vere censure  and  reprimand''  from  the  Speaker  for  his  con- 
duet.  This  being  done,  the  matter  was  over.  Shortly  there- 
after he  was  granted  "leave  of  absence"  for  the  session. 

A  mail  route  was  established  through  the  Colony  in  1708, 
in  acordance  with  an  act  of  1700.  It  was  the  link  between 
\Yilliamsbtirg,  Virginia,  and  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 
From  Suffolk,  Virginia,  it  went  to  Cotton's  Ferry,  on  the 
Chowan.  40  miles;  then  1<>  Appletree's,  on  the  Roanoke,  30 
miles;  then  to  Sailer's,  on  Tar  River,  35  miles;  then  to 
Kemp's  on  the  Xeuse,  *2S  miles;  then  to  Xew  Bern,  10  miles ; 
and  on  by  Wilmington,  Brunswick  and  the  Boundary  House 
into  South  Carolina  and  to  Charleston. 

Though  John  Simpson  was  in  sympathy  with  the  Regula- 
tors of  Pi  it  County,  he  was  loyal  to  the  governor,  and  when 
Robert  Salter  reported  that  he  had  just  come  from  Tarboro, 
where  he  learned  that  the  Regulators  of  Bute  and  Johnston 
counties  were  preparing  to  go  to  Xew  Bern  to  prevent  Colonel 
Fanning  taking  his  seat  in  the  Assembly  of  1770,  he  (Simp- 
son) readily  ordered  the  militia  to  meet  at  the  court-house,  to 
be  in  readiness  to  march  to  Xew  Hern  to  be  at  the  governor's 
service,  lie  was  colonel  of  the  Pitt  Regiment  of  militia. 
December  5th  Colonel  Simpson  notified  Governor  Tryoii 
thai  ho  had  35s  men,  with  six  days  provisions,  ready  to 
march  to  Xew  Bern,  if  required. 

They  were  not  required  at  Xew  Bern.  But  they  seem  to 
have  been  held  somewhat  in  readiness,  as  the  trouble  grew 
and  a  revolution  was  imminent  in  the  western  counties. 
April  13th.  1771.  Colonel  Simpson  paid  Captain  Robert  Sal- 
ter  "lie  hundred  pounds,  to  be  applied  1o  raising  a  company 
ot  infantry  io  join  ( mvrnmr  Tryon's  expedition  against  the 
Regulators.  Benjamin  Randall  was  paid  forty  shillings,  as 
I'oiiiiiy  <>n  the  service  again.-t  the  Regulators.  Having  deter- 
mined to  imirch  against  the  Regulators,  Governor  Tryon  left 
Xe\v  Rcru  April  L'iM.  and  arrived  at  Colonel  Bryan's,  TOO 
'iiii«'-  I' run i  X'-w  HITII.  May  1-t.  with  the  1  roops  from  the 


SKKTCHKS    OK     PITT    ror.NTY.  'J 

eastern  counties.  There  lu;  was  joined  by  the  troop-  from  the 
Wilmington  District  on  the  -'id.  The  next  day  he  reviewed 
them  in  the  meadoAV  at  Smith's  Ferry,  one  company  from 
Pitt  under  Capt.  Robert  Salter  beiug  among  them.  ( )n  the 
4th,  the  marcli  was  taken  up  for  llillshorough,  going  hy  way 
of  Johnston  Court-house.  On  the  night  of  the  7th,  the  Tilt 
Company  served  as  pickets,  and  next  day  as  baggage  guard. 
On  the  l.">th,  they  were  at  Camp  Alamance  and  line  of  battle- 
was  formed  for  the  morrow.  In  the  alignments  of  surgeons, 
the  Pitt  company,  with  those  of  J>eau1'ort,  Cartcret.  ('raven, 
Dohbs.  and  the  Rangers,  was  under  Dr.  Ilaslin.  The  next 
day,  ^lav  10th,  1771,  was  fought  the  battle  of  Alamance. 
The  Pitt  Company  was  very  probably  with  the  others  from 
the  Xew  IJern  District,  under  Colonel  Leacll.  occupying  the 
right  on  the  front  line.  (iovernor  Tryon  had  about  1.100 
men,  the  Regulators  being  estimated  at  something  like  i',0<)0. 
with  few  guns,  most  of  them  having  clubs,  or  umvieldly  and 
useless  weapon?.  The  fight  continued  for  some  time,  but 
could  only  result  in  the  defeat  of  the  Regulators,  who  lost 
more  than  100  killed  and  wounded,  while  the  troops  l,>-t  nine 
killed  and  about  sixty  wounded.  Thus  wa-  fought  the  tirst 
battle  of  Liberty — was  shed  the  first  blood  for  Liberty — in  the 
colonies,  and  Pitt  County,  which  was  afterwards  so  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  Liberty,  fought  on  the  side  of  rovaltv. 

Officers  Avere  not  much  better  in  collecting  and  turning  in 
public  moneys  then  than  are  some  now.  In  the  report  for 
1771  is  found  that  GG,443  pounds  and  0  pence  are  due  the 
Colony.  Of  this  amount  Pitt  Avas  behind  by  -heriiV-  a-  fol- 
IOAVS  :  Abraham  Tyson.  5  IS  pounds,  1:5  shilling-  and  3 
pence  for  17li-">  (judgment  and  execution)  ;  George  -Move. 
Gl  pounds.  7  shillings  and  0  pence  for  17GG  (execution); 
William  Moore.  230  pounds  and  3  shillings  f(.r  17G'.i  and 
301  pounds  for  1770;  making  1010  pounds  and  3  shillings 
for  Pitt  ( 'ounty. 

Pitt  had  now  grown  to  such  importance  that  a  permanent 
town  and  u'ood  court-house  were  wanted.  Richard  Evans 


50  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

and  Alex.  Stewart  were  its  members  in  the  Assembly,  and  on 
the  Od  of  .January.  1771,  Mr.  Evans  introduced  a  bill  for  a 
town  on  his  lands.  It  failed  at  this  session,  but  was  passed 
at  tlie  December,  following,  session.  In  transmitting  a  re- 

o  '  o 

port  of  the  laws  of  the  session  to  Lord  Ilillsborough,  Governor 
Martin  said.  "The  place  is  considered  to  be  convenient  for 
trade  and  a  (own  being  in  request  among  the  people  of  the 
county  I  was  induced  to  pass  this  act  for  its  erection  and  to 
accept  the  compliment  designed  to  me  by  its  name."  The 
town  was  named  Martinborough. 


SKETCHES   OF    PITT    CoL'NTY.  51 


CITAPTElt  EIGHT. 


OFFICIAL  COKUITTION — BLUE  LAWS — Cor.vrv  <  )FFI«  KKS — 
THE  ".JOHN  AND  ELIZABETH"  SCHOONER  Ai  i  AIR -  —  FK\V 
TAXES  PAID  MILITIA  OFFICERS — MARTINHOROUGH— 
REVOLUTIONARY  PROCEEDINGS — PITT  FREEHOLDERS  IS- 
SUE A  DECLARATION  OF  RIGHTS — STANDING  COMMITTEE 
APPOINTED. 

During  the  beginning  of  Governor  Jos  i  ah  .Martin's  admin- 
istration, the  same  troubles  that  caused  the  trouble  and  battle 
of  Alamance  continued,  though  not  so  greatly  as  during  that 
of  Governor  Try  on.  Officers  continued  to  collect  unlawful 
fees,  though  Governor  Martin  issued  proclamations  against  it 
and  forbid  such. 

In  order  to  aid  the  promotion  of  religion,  virtue,  morality 
and  upbuild,  he  also  issued  a  proclamation,  demanding  the 
"discovery  and  effectual  prosecution  of  all  persons  who  shall 
be  guilty  of  drunkenness,  blasphemy,  profane  swearing  and 
cursing,  lewdness.  profanation  of  the  .Lord's  day,  or  other 
dissolute,  immoral  or  disorderly  practices."  Despite  all  ef- 
forts to  stop  oppression,  it  continued  and  the  people  were 
growing  more  and  more  in  opposition  to  the  royal  govern- 
ment. 

A  list  of  the  olhVers  fur  Pitt  County  at  this  time  shows 
that  Edward  Salter  was  clerk  of  the  court;  John  Simpson, 
register,  and  also  colonel  of  the  militia  ;  Dempsey  Grimes, 
coroner. 

In  ITO'.i  Julin  Simpson's  schooner,  the  ''John  and  Eliza- 
beth," sailed  from  Port  Royal,  Jamaica,  for  home,  with  a 
valuable  cargo.  Bad  weather  drove  it  to  Vera  Cruz.  ^lexico. 
where  it  was  seized  by  the  Spaniards  and  held  until  February 
6th,  1T7-.  when  it  was  ordered  to  leave.  Reaching  Havana, 
the  crew  embarked  on  another  ship,  the  sloop  "Sally,"  for 
Xorth  Carolina,  arriving  in  Pasquotank  in  April.  They 
told  a  tale  of  suffering,  imprisonment  and  robberv.  and 


SKKTCMKS   OK    IMTT    COI'NTV.  ,),j 

Simpson  asked  the  governor  lo  have  these  wrongs  redressed. 
The  crew  sooins  to  have  returned  with  much  money  and  that 
aroused  suspicion.  Fbenezer  Fuller,  the  master  of  the 
schooner,  soon  left  the  Colony.  Ichahod  Simpson,  In-other  to 
John  Simpson,  was  mate.  Tho  result  of  the  investigation 
was  an  incrimination  of  the  crew  and  Simpson  never  recov- 
ered any  damages. 

A  report  to  tho  Assembly  at  Xew  JJern,  March  .">th,  1773. 
showed  that  s92  pounds  and  18  shillings  were  still  due  from 
the  sheriffs  of  Pitt  County  on  the  public  taxes,  as  follows: 
George  Move,  61  pounds,  7  shillings  and  9  pence;  William 
Moore,  333  pounds  and  S  shillings;  Robert  Salter,  498 
pounds,  2  shillings  and  3  pence.  These,  in  a  measure,  show 
the  opposition  of  the  people  to  the  burdensome  taxes  of  those 
times.  The  Receiver  (Jend'al's.  (John  Rutherford)  report 
showed  that  Pitt  County  had  paid  no  quit  rents,  arrears  of 
quit  rents,  tines,  forfeitures,  and  other  incomes,  from  March 
25th,  1772,  to  the  same  date  1773.  Another  report  showed 
none  collected  for  the  two  years  previous. 

The  field  return  of  the  regiment  of  Pitt  militia  at  a  gen- 
eral muster  on  the  18th  of  November,  1773,  showed  seven 
companies  present  with  5GG  men.  One  company  was  not 
represented.  Three  companies  reported  30  men  absent. 
The  commissioned  officers  were  John  Tyson,  Colonel;  Amos 
Atkinson,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Aaron  Tyson,  Major. 
The  returns  were  signed  by  John  Simpson,  Colonel,  and  John 
Leslie,  Adjutant. 

The  act  for  a  town  on  the  lands  of  Richard  Evans  on  Tar 
River  had  never  been  carried  out,  and  in  1774  a  supplemen- 
tary act  was  passed  providing  for  that  town,  by  the  name  of 
Martinborongh.  The  act  also  provided  for  the  sale  of  lots 
by  lottery  and  the  removal  of  the  court-house,  prison  and 
stocks  and  making  it  the  county  town. 

During  all  these  times  the  feelings  between  the  colonies 
and  England  were  growing  more  bitter.  A  meeting  was 
held  in  Wilmington,  July  21st,  1774,  and  a  call  issued  for  a 


54:  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

general  meeting  to  be  held  at  Johnston  court-house  on  the 
20th  of  August.  Some  counties  appointed  delegates  to  that 
meeting,  but  it  was  not  held.  Counties  began  holding  revolu- 
tionary meetings,  Rowan  holding  the  first,  August  8th,  with 
Craven  following  on  August  9th,  Johnston  on  the  12th,  Pitt 
and  Granville  on  the  15th,  and  others  soon  thereafter.,  all 
appointing  delegates  to  a  general  convention  of  the  colony  to 
be  held  at  Xew  Bern  on  the  25th.  Governor  Martin  protested 
against  these  meetings  as  "derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  his 
Majesty  and  his  Parliament,  and  tending  to  excite  Clamour, 
and  discontent  among  the  King's  subjects."  He  also  issued  a 
proclamation,  requiring  all  officers  to  prohibit  and  prevent 
such  meetings  and  especially  that  to  be  held  at  ISTew  Bern. 

The  ""Minutes  of  the  meeting  at  Martinborough  are  as 
follows : 

"Xoirm  CAROLINA, 
"PiTT  COUNTY,  August  15th,  1774. 

"At  a  general  meeting  of  the  freeholders  of  the  county 
aforesaid  at  the  town  of  Martinborough,  John  ITardee,  Esq., 
in  the  chair, 

"Resolved,  That  as  the  Constitutional  Assembly  of  this 
Colony  are  prevented  from  exercising  their  rights  of  provid- 
ing for  the  security  of  the  liberties  of  the  people,  that  right 
again  reverts  to  the  people  as  the  foundation  from  whence  all 
power  and  legislation  flow. 

"Resolved,  That  John  Simpson  and  Edward  Salter, 
Esqrs..  do  attend  at  the  town  of  Xew  Born  on  the  25th  instant 
in  general  Convention  of  this  Province  and  there  to  exert 
their  utmost  abilities  preventing  the  growing  system  of  minis- 
terial Despotism  which  now  threaten-  the  destruction  of 
American  Liberties,  and  thai  you  our  deputies  may  be  ac- 
quainted  with  the  sentiments  of  the  people  of  this  county,  it 
is  their  opinion,  ilia!  you  proceed  to  choose  proper  persons  to 
repre.-ent  this  Province  in  a  General  ConoTess  of  America  to 


SKKTCIIKS   OF    IMTT    COUNTY.  55 

meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  may  be  hereafter  agreed  on. 
That  these  delegates  be  instructed  to  a  declaration  of  Ameri- 
can rights  setting  forth  that  British  America  and  all  its 
inhabitants  shall  be  and  remain  in  due  subjection  to  the 
Crown  of  England  and  to  the  illustrious  family  of  the  throne, 
Submitting  by  their  own  voluntary  act,  and  enjoying  all  their 
fret1  chartered  rights  and  liberties  as  British  free  subjects. 
That  it  is  the  first  law  of  Legislation  and  of  the  British  Con- 
stitution that  no  man  be  taxed  but  by  his  consent,  Expressed 
by  himself  or  by  his  legal  Representatives. 

''On  motion  the  said  meeting  was  then  dissolved." 
October  4th,  another  meeting  was  held  and  a  standing  com- 
mittee for  the  county  was  appointed,  consisting  of  John  ITar- 
dee,  John  Simpson,  Robert  Salter,  Edward  Salter,  William 
Bryant,  Edmond  Williams,  Benjamin  May,  George  Evans 
and  Amos  Atkinson,  any  five  of  whom  were  to  be  a  quorum  for 
the  transaction  of  business.  The  committee  met  again  on 
the  27th  and  elected  John  Ilardec  chairman,  and  Edward 
Salter,  clerk.  They  adjourned  to  meet  the  first  Thursday  in 
November. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  XIXE. 


HELP  KOU  BOSTON — DONATIONS  ASKED — COMMITTEE 
ELECTED  AS  OBJECTED  IJY  THE  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS — 
MEMKKKS — THE  SALT  QTKSTION — PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS 
AT  X  K \v  P>  ]•: i;  N — COURT-HOUSE— VEKMIN. 

The  lir-i  business  that  occupied  llio  committee  at  its  Xo- 
vember  meeting  was  the  condition  of  the  people  of  Boston, 
and  "On  nmiinii.  the  Committee  Considering  the  present  un- 


Washington   dine. I   when   in   Greenville  on   his  southern   tour 


happy  -it  nation  of  the  inhabitant-  of  the  town  of  Boston,  and 
the  misci'ahlc  <li*-irrss  the  poor  inhabitants  of  said  town  are 
mlnri',1  lo  I iv  the  effects  ..I'  the  late  acts  of  Parliament  block- 
ing up  i  he  pnri  .-ind  liiirln,]-  (,f  tlie  -aid  town  of  Boston,  and  the 


SKETCHES   OK   PITT   COU.NTV.  .>  < 

poor  of  said  (own  can  not  exist  nor  support  themselves  and 
families  without  the  assistance  of  the  neighboring  collinys,  in 
order  1o  relieve  and  support  said  poor  of  Boston,  as  fur  as  our 
situation  and  circumstances  admit,  we  appoint  John  Hardee, 
Esq.,  Win.  Bryant,  John  Knoles  Jr  ,  James  Gorhain, 
Samuel  Calhoun,  John  Page,  John  Williams,  Henry  Ellis, 
George  Evans,  George  Moye,  William  Travis,  James  Arm- 
strong, Robert  Salter,  James  Latham,  .David  Perkins,  God- 
frey Stansel,  John  Tison,  Allen  Sugg,  Aaron  Tison,  Charles 
Forhes,  James  Brooks,  Jacob  Blount  and  Laz  Paine  to  assist 
the  gentlemen  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Michael's  Parish  in  collect- 
ing for  the  support  of  the  said  sufferers  in  said  town  of  Bos- 
ton, from  such  generous  persons  of  this  county  as  may  give  by 
subscription  for  support  of  said  sufferers,  such  persons  with 
the  vestry  to  have  subscription  for  that  purpose,  payable  to  the 
committee  heretofore  mentioned,  them  or  either  of  them,  they 
and  each  of  them  keeping  a  plain  and  regular  aconnt  of  what 
they  receive  and  to  give  each  person  a  receipt  for  said  dona- 
tion, and  to  furnish  this  committee  of  this  county  with  a  copy 
or  the  original  of  each  of  their  accounts  for  their  inspection 
and  correction,  which  donations  are  to  be  collected  from  each 
receiver  by  the  direction  of  the  said  committee,  to  be  shipped 
for  the  benefit  of  said  Poore  of  Boston  to  any  port  on  the  con- 
tinent, that  the  committee  may  think  most  Beneficial  all  the 
net  proceeds  thereof  to  be  ordered  into  the  hands  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  receive  the  several  donations  from  the  dif- 
ferent countys,  towns,  etc.,  on  the  continent  in  said  town  of 
Boston.  . 

"Resolved,  That  this  committee  wil  be  thankful  to  any  per- 
son or  persons  for  any  advice  that  may  be  of  service  to  the 
committee  in  general. 

"Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  committee  be  open 
for  the  inspection  of  any  Inhabitants  of  this  county,  they,  he 
or  she  being  a  friend  to  the  freedom  of  American  Liberty. 

"Ordered  that  John  Hardee,  John  Simpson,  and  Edward 
Salter  acquaint  the  standing  committee  of  this  province,  that 


DO  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

a  committee  of  this  county  hath  formed  themselves,  and  are 
ready  to  communicate  and  receive  advice  from  them. 

''The  committee  then  adjourned  till  this  day  two  weeks." 

The  Committee  met  again  on  the  17th.  An  abstract  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress,  recently  held  at 
Philadelphia,  was  presented  and  read.  Another  meeting 
was  called  and  advertised  for  December  9th,  for  electing  a 
number  of  persons  as  a  "committee"  as  required  by  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  Continental  Congress.  At  the  December,  9th, 
meeting  the  following  were  elected  to  constitute  that  com- 
mittee, agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  congress  :  John  Har- 
dee,  James  Lockhart,  Benjamin  May.  William  Travis,  James 
Armstrong,  Frederick  Gibble,  Amos  Atkinson,  William  Rob- 
son,  Edmond  Williams,  John  Knowles,  James  Gorham, 
John  Simpson,  James  Lanier,  George  Evans,  Ichabod  Simp- 
son, Edward  Salter,  Peter  Rives,  William  Bryant,  Robert 
Salter,  David  Perkins,  James  Latham  and  Joseph  Gainer. 

The  newly  elected  Committee  then  met  on  same  day.  John 
Simpson  was  elected  chairman.  The  following  is  the  account 
of  their  proceedings : 

''The  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress  held  at  the 
Cittie  of  Philada.  on  20th.  Oct.  Past  was  exhibited  and 
read — - 

"Resolved,  That  this  committee  doth  approve  of  said  As- 
sotiation. 

"WirKKKAs  lliere  is  many  complaints  that  the  Trading  Ves- 
sels and  others  have  raised  on  the  price  of  Salt,  occasioned  by 
the  scarcity  of  that  article,  which  is  contrary  to  the  resolution 
of  the  Continental  Congress  that  traders  are  not  to  take  an 
advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  Goods — the  committee  therefore 
recommend  that  salt  should  not  be  sold  for  more  ihan  three 
shillings  four  pence  per  bushel  at  Gorham's  landing  and 
above1  and  below  that  place  in  proportion  with  freight  and 
loss;  any  pel-son  acting  contrary  to  the  same  will  be  deemed 
his  count  ry. 

lill  L'Mh  dav  of  Jan  Xext." 


SKKTCIIKS    OF    1'ITT   COL'NTV. 


Tlie  first  Provincial  Congress  in  Xorth  Carolina  nn-t  at 
Xew  Bern,  August  25th,  with  a  majority  of  the  counties  rep- 
resented. Jt  was  in  session  three  days.  After  many  indict- 
ments of  the  English  colonial  governments,  though  professing 
all  dne  allegiance  to  the  King,  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
British  subjects  were  demanded,  and  unless  granted  it  was 
resolved  that  after  January,  1775.  to  import  nothing  from 
England,  and  that  after  November.  1775,  to  export  nothing  to 
that  country,  and  declared  it  would  '"break"  with  any  colony 
that  refused  to  obey  the  Continental  Congress.  It  elected 
William  Hooper,  Joseph  Howes  and  Richard  Caswell  dele- 
gates to  the  Continental  Congress,  to  meet  at  Philadelphia. 

The  Assembly  this  year  appointed  George  Evans,  Charles 
Forbes,  Henry  Ellis,  Benjamin  May  and  William  Roberson, 
commissioners  to'  contract  with  workmen  for  the  removal  of 
the  court-house,  prison  and  stocks  to  Martinborough.  Courts 
were  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  John  Leslie,  in  Martinborough, 
until  the  removal  could  be  completed. 

The  act  for  destroying  "vermin"  was  extended  to  Pitt  and 
other  counties,  not  before  included. 

The  close  of  the  year  1774  saw  practically  a  state  of  con- 
flict between  the  people  and  the  royal  governments  in  the 
colonies.  Though  there  had  been  no  bloodshed,  indications 
were  that  it  might  be  shed  at  any  time  and  the  people  of 
Xorth  Carolina,  the  people  of  Pitr  County,  were  preparing 
for  what  mic'ht  follow, 


GO  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TEX. 


COMMITTEE  OF  SAFETY  PROCEEDINGS — DEPUTIES  TO  PRO- 
VINCIAL CONGRESS  ELECTED TlIPvEE  OBSTRUCTIONISTS- 
ACTS  OF  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS  APPROVED — JOHN 
TISON,  TORY — HELP  FOR  BOSTON — PROVINCIAL  CON- 
GRESS AND  ASSEMBLY — SECOND  DECLARATION  OF  RIGHTS 
— UEV.  MR.  BLOUNT — PATROLLEUS — ATKINSON  AND 

SlIEPPARI). 

There  is  no  record  of  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  January  2Sth,  1775,  according  to  the  adjournment  of 
the  meeting  of  December  9th,  1774,  the  next  meeting  of 
record  being  on  February  llth,  177.").  The  only  business  of 
this  meeting  was  to  authorize  John  Simpson  to  write  Xorth 
for  a  vessel  to  carry  the  donations  from  the  county  to  Boston, 
and  to  call  and  advertise  for  a  meeting  for  March  10th,  next, 
to  elect  deputies  to  represent  the  county  in  the  next  Provin- 
cial Congress. 

At  that  meeting  John  Simpson,  Edward  Salter,  James  Gor- 
ham,  James  Lamer  and  William  Robson  were  elected  depu- 
ties. The  "Resolves"  of  the  committee  for  Craven  County 
were  read  and  approved.  The  Committee  having  been  in- 
formed that  Amos  Atkinson,  Solomon  Sheppard  and  John 
Tisoii  had  "in  many  Instances  Obstructed  the  Contribution 
for  the  Relief  of  the  poore  of  Boston,  etc.,  Ordered  that  the 
Chairman  Address  the  Sd  Gentlemen,  so  they  may  appear  at 
the  next  Meet'":  of  the  Committee  and  Justifie  Themselves 
in  that  Particular. 

"Adjourned  till  the  24th  of  this  month.'' 

The  Committee  met  on  the  24th  and  adjourned  on  the  20th 
of  April,  of  which,  if  there  was  a  meeting,  there  is  no  record, 
the  next  being  that  of  May  1st,  of  which  the  following  is  the 
acoiint  of  the  proceedings: — 

'•'The  association  nf  the  Continental  Congress  lately  held  at 
Philadelphia  was  produced  and  read. 


SKKTCII  KS     (>K     IMTT    <<H   .N'iV. 


61 


"Resolved  unanimously  l»y  ever\  member  of  tlii-  committee 
that  we  and  every  one  of  u>  do  lii^lilv  :ij)j»r(»\-c  and  will 
strictly  observe  the  said  Resolves  in  Testimony  whereof  Much 
Member  subscribes  tbe  -aine 


"It  havinc;  been  represented  to  this  committee  that  John 
Tison  hath  frequently  spoken  disrespectfully  of  the  proceed- 


62  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUXTY. 

ings  of  the  Congress  in  general  and  of  this  committee  in  par- 
ticular, on  a  supposition  that  such  charge  is  true,  it  must  be 
owned  that  the  said  Tison  highly  deserves  to  be  stigmatized, 
but  as  it  is  not  yet  reduced  to  a  certainty  whether  he  is  guilty 
or  not  or  if  he  is.  may  have  proceeded  from  unguarded  heat  or 
Ignorance  and  as  it  is  the  firm  attention  of  this  committee  to 
proceed  in  their  censures  with  charity  and  circumspection,  it 
is  therefore  ordered  that  Mr.  George  Evans,  Mr.  James 
Lockhart  and  Mr.  Benjamin  May  or  cither  two  of  them  do 
attend  the  said  John  Tison  to  remonstrate,  cite  him  to  appear 
before  this  committee  when  it  shall  next  sit  on  the  13th  day 
of  this  present  Iiist.  then  and  there  to  answer  the  above 
charge.''  The  committee  met  Jii  the  13th  and  simply  ad- 
journed to  the  20th,  at  which  time  it  met  and  among  other 
business 

•'Resolved  that  John  Tison  be  advertised  in  the  public 
papers." 

At  the  meeting  May  27th.  the  chairman  received  for  the 
use  of  the  town  of  Boston  from  William  Robeson  12  shillings, 
William  Bryant  and  Avcnt  Pope  20  shillings,  James  Robe- 
son  1  shilling. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  that  met. in  Xewr  Bern,  April 
3d,  Pitt  sent  James  Gorham.  James  Lanier,  William  Robe- 
son,  John  Simpson  and  Edward  Saltei,  This  Congress 
"most  Heartily''  approved  of  the  acts  of  the  Continental 
Congress  and  pledged  its  support  for  all  measures  advocated 
by  it.  William  Hooper,  Joseph  Howes  and  Richard  Cas- 
well  wore  appointed  delegates  to  the  General  Congress  to  be 
held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  10th  of  May.  and  it  was  recom- 
mended that  each  county  raise  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  for 
the  purpose  of  paying  the  expense-  of  the  delegates. 

The  Assembly  met  at  Xew  Bern  on  the  4th  of  April.  To 
this  A-sembly  Pitt  sent  John  Simpson  and  Edward  Salter. 
Thu>  these  two  men  were,  at  the  same  time,  members  of  two 
different  Assemblies  that  were  opposed  or  hostile  to  each 
other  in  intent. 


SKKTOHKS    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY.  03 

The  Committee  met  June  10th  and  called  a  meeting  for  the 
23d,-  for  the  purpose  of  electing  such  persons  as  might  he 
deemed  proper,  to  carry  into  execution  the  "Resolves"  of  the 
General  Congress.  The  "Resolves''  of  the  Craven  County 
Committee  were  read  and  approved.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
23d,  held  at  tho  house  of  John  Leslie,  many  member.-,  were 
added  to  the  committee,  to  assist  in  carrying  out  the  resolves 
of  Congress. 

The  Committee  met  next  on  July  1st  and  passed  the  follow- 
ing resolution : 

"We  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Pitt 
and  town  of  Martinborough,  being  deeply  affected  with  the 
present  alarming  state  of  this  Province  and  all  America — Do 
Resolve  that  we  will  pay  all  due  allegiance  to  his  majesty 
King  George  the  third  and  endeavor  to  continue  the  succes- 
sion of  his  crown  in  the  Illustrious  house  of  Hanover  as  by 
law  established,  against  the  present  01  any  future  wicked  min- 
istry, or  arbitrary  set  of  men  whatsoever,  at  the  same  time 
we  are  determined  to  assert  our  rights  as  men  and  sensible 
that  by  the  late  acts  of  Parliament  the  most  valuable  Liberties 
and  privileges  of  America  are  invaded  and  endeavor  to  be 
violated  and  destroyed  and  that  under  God  the  preser- 
vation of  them  depends  on  a  firm  union  of  the  in- 
habitants and  a  sturdy  spirited  observation  of  the  Resolutions 
of  the  General  Congress,  being  shocked  at  the  cruel  scenes 
now  acting  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  and  determined  never 
to  become  slaves  to  any  power  upon  earth,  we  do  hereby 
agree  and  associate  under  all  tycs  of  "Religion,  Honour,  and 
regard  for  Posterity  that  we  will  adopt  and  endeavor  to  exe- 
cute the  measures  which  the  General  Congress  now  sitting  at 
Philadelphia  conclude  on  for  preserving  our  constitution  and 
opposing  the  execution  of  the  several  arbitrary  Illegal  acts  of 
the  British  Parliament  and  that  we  will  roadilv  observe,  The 
Directions  of  our  General  Committee  for  the  purpose  afore- 
said, the  Preservation  of  Peace  and  Good  Order  and  Security 
of  Individuals  and  private  property,'''  which  was  signed  by 


04  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

87  members.  The  committee  also  adopted  rules  of  order  for 
conduct  of  its  meetings,  Patrolers  were  appointed  for  the 
proper  control  of  slaves.  Any  slave  found  off  his  master's 
premises  without  a  pass,  was  liable  to  thirty-nine  lashes  or 
perhaps  less.  It  was  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blount  should 

"preach  in  the  Court-House  of  Martinborough  on " 

it  was  also  resolved  ''That  the  20th  day  of  this  Inst.,  be 
Observed  as  a  day  of  Publick  Pasting  and  Humiliation 
agreeable  to  the  appointment  of  the  Continental  Congress  & 
that.  Reverend  Mr.  Blount  by  desire  of  the  chairman  to 
Preach  a  Sermon  at  the  Court  House  in  Martinborough  Suit- 
able to  the  Occasion." 

The  Committee  met  July  Sth,  and  authorized  the  patrolers 
to  shoot  any  number  of  negroes  who  were  armed  and  did  not 
readily  submit  and  gave  them  discretionary  power  to  shoot 
any  number  of  negroes  above  four  who  were  off  their  master's 
plantation  and  would  not  submit.  Any  negro  so  killed  was 
to  be  paid  for  out  of  a  poll  tax  on  all  the  taxable  negroes  in 
the  county. 

At  the  meeting  of  July  17th,  Amos  Atkinson  and  Solomon 
Sheppard  appeared  and  acquitted  themselves  of  the  accusa- 
tions of  disloyalty  charged  against  them  at  the  meeting  of 
March  10th.  Some  of  the  companies  previously  organized 
reported  the  election  of  officer-. 


SKK'IVHKS    OF    I' ITT    (OTNTY. 


CIIAPTKR   KLKVKN. 


XK<;KO   I  \si -mm  TIO.N —  MKASUKKS  TO  PUKVKNT  IT — \\JIITK 

MAX     I. \STIUATOH No     LlVKS    LOST,    HIT    N  K<;  KOKS    WlIII'- 

i-KD      I  )KU:C;ATKS      TO     II  IM.SISOKO — UAISI.\<;      TKOOI-S — 

MILITARY     DISTRICTS    AM)    Ol-'I-  'ICKKS  --,]  fST  K.'KS    QcAI.IFY 

— Tuorin.K  ABOIT   RKV.  M  u.   I>LOI  .NT. 

While  preparations  were  being  so  actively  made  to  meet  a 
foreign  foe,  as  England  was  then  considered,  a  worse  foe  wa> 
to  be  found  at  home.  It  was  a  slave  insurrection,  no  doubt 
fostered  and  welcomed  by  the  enemies  of  American  liberty. 
Accounts  of  it  are  meagre,  and  as  it  did  not  really  occur,  it 
is  best  told  in  a  letter  of  John  Simpson  to  Richard  Cogdoll. 
chairman  of  the  Craven  County  Committee,  under  date  ot 
July  J~>th.  177.").  Tie  wrote  as  follows:  ''*  Our 

Committee  met  the  lust.,  when  the   Express  arrived 

from  Mr.  Kdward  Salter  giving  us  account  of  a  discovery  that 
was  made  in  Beaufort  County  bv  one  of  Mr.  Darner  and  one 
of  Captain  Kespess  negro  men  unto  Capt.  Thomas  Respess 
of  an  intended  insurrection  of  the  negroes  against  the  whole 
people  which  was  to  'he  put  into  execution  that  niiiht.  We 
immediately  sent  ort'  an  Express  to  Tarborough  to  alarm  the 
inhabitants  there.  \ve  then  proceeded  to  busines  and  appointed 
upwards  of  one  hundred  men  as  patrolers  and  passed  a  resolve 
that  any  negroes  that  should  be  destroyed  by  them  or  any 
person  in  company  with  them  in  apprehending  should  be  paid 
for  by  a  tax  on  the  negroes  in  this  county.  We  then  separated 
to  sound  the  alarm  through  this  county  and  apprehend  the 
suspected  heads.  By  night  we  had  in  custody  and  in  goal 
near  forty  under  proper  guard.  Sunday  the  committee  sett 
and  proceeded  to  examine  into  the  affair  and  find  it  a  deep 
laid  Horrid  Tragick  Plan  laid  for  destroying  the  inhabitants 
of  this  province  without  respect  of  persons,  age  or  sex.  By 

negro  evidence  it  appears  that  Capt .Johnson  of 

5 


66  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

White  Haven,  who  hath  just  loaded  his  Brigg  with  Xaval 
Stores  for  that  port,  in  consort  with  Merrick,  a  negro  man 
slave  who  formerly  belonged  to  Major  Clark  a  Pilot  at  Oka- 
cock  hut  now  to  Capt.  Nath  Blinn  of  Bath  Town  propagated 
the  contagion.  The  contagion  has  spread  beyond 

the  waters.      There  are  five  negroes  were  whipt 

this  day  by  order. 

"Monday — The  Committee  sat.  Ordered  several  to  be 
severely  whipt  and  sentenced  several  to  receive  80  lashes  each 
to  have  both  Ears  crap'd  which  was  executed  in  the  presence 
of  the  Committee  and  a  great  number  of  spectators.  In  the 
afternoon  we  received  by  express  from  Coll.  Blount  " 
of  negroes  being  in  arms  on  the  line  of  Craven 

and  Pitt  and  prayed  assistance  of  men  and  ammunition 
which  we  readily  granted.  We  posted  guards  upon  the  roads 
for  several  miles  that  night.  ^Just  as  I  got  home  came  one 
of  Mr.  Xelson's  sons  from  Pometo  (near  Mr.  Harlau's  mill) 
and  informed  me  of  250  negroes  that  had  been  pursued  for 
several  day-  but  none  taken  nor  seen  tho'  they  were  several 
times  tired  at.  Had  lie  been  at  Martinborough  he  would 
have  received  pay  for  his  negroes.  On  Tuesday  we  sent  off 
two  companies  of  Light  Horse,  one  to  Lower  and  one  to 
Upper  Swift  Creek  Bridge  in  order  to  find  from  whence  the 
report  arose  and  found  the  author  to  be  a  negro  wench  of 
William  Taylor's  on  Clay  Root,  with  design  to  kill  her  master 
and  mistress  and  Lay  it  upon  those  negroes.  She  has  re- 
ceived severe  correction.  Since  that  we  have  remained  as 
quiet  as  ^ve  could  from  the  nature  of  things.  We  keep  tak- 
ing u}>.  examining  and  scourging  more  or  less  every  day; 
From  whichever  part  of  the  County  they  come  they  all  confess 
neitrly  the  same  thing,  viz.  that  they  were  one  and  all  on  the 
niiiht  of  the  xth  inst  to  fall  on  and  destroy  the  family  where 
they  lived,  then  to  proceed  from  House  to  House  (Burning 
;ts  ihey  went')  until  they  arrived  in  the  back  country  where 
'hey  were  to  lie  received  with  by  a  number  of  Persons  there 
appointed  and  armed  by  the  Government  for  their  protection, 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUJSTY.  67 

and  as  a  further  reward  they  were  to  be  settled  in  a  free  gov- 
ernment of  their  own. 

"Capt.  Johnson  its  said  was  heard  to  say  that  he'd  return 
in  the  fall  and  take  choice  of  the  Plantations  upon  this 
River." 

In  a  postscript  to  the  letter  he  said  considerable  ammuni- 
tion was  found  when  disarming  the  negroes.  Thus  was 
timely  checked  a  plot  of  murder  and  rapine  that  might  have 
been  worse  than  that  of  the  Indians  of  1712. 

The  Committee  met  on  the  21st  of  July  and  adjourned  to 
the  29th. 

To  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Hillsboro  Pitt  sent  John 
Simpson,  Robert  Salter,  William  Bryan,  James  Gorham.  and 
James  Latham.  This  Congress  professed  loyalty  to  the  King, 
but  denied  the  right  of  taxation  without  representation  and 
made  preparations  for  war.  A  provisional  government  was 
organized  and  the  control  of  the  colony  passed  from  that  of 
the  royalists  to  that  of  the  people.  Samuel  Johnston,  by 
virtue  of  being  chairman  of  the  Provincial  Council  was  dc. 
facto  Governor. 

The  Congress  at  Hillsboro  ordered  two  regiments,  of  five 
hundred  men  each,  to  be  raised.  In  each  district  ten  com- 
panies, of  fifty  men  each,  were  ordered  raised,  these  ten  com- 
panies to  form  a  battalion  and  to  be  known  as  Minute  Men. 
In  the  Xew  Bern  District  Richard  Caswell  was  made  Col- 
onel; William  Bryan,  Lieutenant  Colonel;  James  Gorham, 
Major.  William  Bryan  was  from  Craven  ;  James  Gorham 
was  from  Pitt.  Robert  Salter  was  appointed  Commissary 
for  the  Xew  Bern  District.  The  colony  had  some  time  be- 
fore been  divided  into  six  Superior  Court  Districts  and  these 
military  and  other  districts  were  the  same  as  the  old  Superior 
Court  Districts.  The  Militia  Field  Officers  of  Pitt  were 
John  Simpson,  Colonel;  Robert  Salter,  Lieutenant  Colonel; 
George  Fvans,  First  Major;  James  Armstrong,  Second  Ma- 
jor. In  proportioning  the  Minute  Men  to  be  raised,  one 
Company  was  to  be  from  Pitt,  nut  of  sixty  to  be  raised  in  the 


GS  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COfXTY. 

colony.  Committees  of  Safety  for  each  District  were  ap- 
pointed and  Edward  Salter  was  a  member  for  the  Xew  Bern 
District. 

When  the  people  of  Pitt  became  so  active  in  their  opposi- 
tion to  the  Royal  Government,  Governor  Martin  appointed 
new  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County.  Those  new  ap- 
pointees refused  to  recognize  themselves  as  Justices,  and  the 
need  of  them,  to  carry  on  the  business  of  the  courts  and  other 
public  duties,  made  the  Provincial  Congress  recommend  that 
they  qualify,  which  of  course  they  then  did. 

At  a  meeting1  of  the  Committee  some  time  in  August,  some 
of  those  who  had  "Received  Apart"  subscriptions  for  the  re- 
lief of  Boston,  were  ordered  to  refund  to  those  who  had  do- 
nated. The  matter  of  the  employment  of  Rev.  Xathaniel 
Blount  to  serve  the  parish  for  twenty  years  was  giving  trouble, 
and  he  was  given  notice  that  he  could  withdraw  from  the 
agreement.  There  were  perhaps  too  few  of  his  members  for 
the  other  churches  to  lie  satisfied.  Tlis  withdraAval  was  con- 
sidered "the  only  method  to  Unite  the  People  of  the  County." 
At  a  meeting  on  the  23d,  over  eighty  new  members  signed  or 
pledged  themselves  to  abide  by  the  acts  of  the  Committee. 


SKKTC1IKS    OF    IMTT    ror.NTY.  00 


CHAPTER  TWELVE. 

CUM  M  I'l'TKH        M  KKTS J  I  1  M.SIM  >RO  UG  I 1        1 1  KSOJ.V KS .J  ( >  II  X 

TISON,  PATRIOT — DKLKGATKS  TO  PROVINCIAL  CONGRESS 

— CuMMJTTKK  UK   SECRECY,    IxTKLMGENCK    AM)   OliSKRVA- 

TIOX — PAY    FOR    PROVISIONS — AMMUNITION     BOUGHT — 
SALT — PAY  FOR  AMMUNITION — ALLOWANCES  TO  TROOPS 
— PRK P. \ RATIONS  FOR  \\TAR. 

The  Committee  mot  September  9th.  .John  Tison,  Ksq., 
was  notified  to  attend  the  next  meeting  to  answer  the  <1  HIV  rent 
allegations  made  against  him.  Some  new  patrolers  were  ap- 
pointed, and  it  was  ordered  that  "no  Parson  Act  in  any  Pub- 
lick  Cappassity  without  signing  the  Association." 

The  Committee  met  on  the  2  3d  and  had  the  Resolves  of  the 
Ilillsboro  Congress  entered  upon  the  Minutes,  which  recom- 
mended that  a  complete  census  of  the  inhabitants,  giving  age, 
color,  sex,  polls,  etc.,  be  taken.  The  freeholders  were  adver- 
tised to  meet  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  October  to  elect  not 
more  than  tive  persons  to  represent  the  county  in  the  next 
Provincial  Congress,  and  also  to  elect  twenty-one  or  more 
persons  to  act  as  a  Committee  for  the  Comity.  John  Tison, 
who  had  been  notified  to  appear  before  the  Committee,  to 
answer  charges  of  disloyalty  and  disrespect  to  the  Committee, 
appeared,  and  swore  allegiance. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  24th  Benjamin  Bowers  presented  a 
list  of  those  elected  at  an  election  held  on  the  17th.  Those 
elected  organized  by  electing  John  Simpson,  chairman  and 
Thomas  \Volfenden,  clerk.  Sheriff  Bowers  also  showed  that 
bv  the  returns  of  the  same  election  that  John  Simpson,  Kd- 
ward  Saher,  and  William  Robeson  were  elected  delegates  to 
represent  the  County  in  the  Provincial  Congress  for  the  ensu- 
ing year. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  2.~>th  some  action  was  taken  regard- 
ing the  neglect  of  duties  by  the  road  overseers.  Permission 
was  given  Captain  John  Cooper  to  sue  John  Knox  and  to 


70  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

warrant  Patrick  Robeson.  A  "Select  Committee  of  Secrecy, 
Intelligence  and  Observation"  was  appointed.  It  consisted 
of  John  Simpson,  Arthur  Forbes,  William  Robeson,  George 
Evans,  Simon  Pope,  Robert  Salter  and  Thomas  Wolfenden. 

The  Provincial  Council  met  at  the  court  house  in  John- 
ston County,  this  month  (October).  Among  its  resolutions 
was  "Resolved  that  the  Treasurers  or  either  of  them  pay  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Robert  Salter  Commissary  of  New  Bern 
district  the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds  proclamation  money 
to  enable  him  to  purchase  provisions  for  the  troops  and  that 
they  be  allowed  in  their  Accounts  with  the  Public." 

At  the  meeting  of  November  llth,  the  chairman  gave  the 
information  that  a  quantity  of  powder  and  ball  had  been  re- 
ceived. It  was  turned  over'  to  that  "Committee  of  Secrecy, 
Intelligence  and  Observation."  It  seems  the  vessel  bringing 
the  powder  and  ball  had  been  seized  and  the  full  amount  was 
not  delivered.  At  the  next  meeting,  December  16th,  Captain 
Paulo  White,  whose  vessel  was  seized  and  who  sold  the  pow- 
der and  ball,  presenting  his  *account  as  follows : 

£450  0  0 

To  717  Ibs  of  powder  @  5s £179   5  0 

To  1,782  Ibs  of  Lead  @  63s...  5626 

To  8  casks  for  the  Lead  @  2s 16   0 

To  2  hogsheads  for  the  powder@lls..        120 


237     5   1 

75  pr  ct  advance  pr  agreement 177  19   2 

— £115  4   8 


£865  4  8 

The  account  was  allowed  and  a  copy  ordered  sent  to  the 
Provincial  Council  for  approval.  On  complaint  of  John 
Bowers  that  John  Brady  owed  him,  but  had  left  the  County, 
and  that  James  Brady  and  William  Brady  owed  John  Brady 
'•nongh  to  pay  the  debt,  it  was  ordered  that  they  pay 

"This  account  H  it  copy  of  the  original. 


SKETCIIKS    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  71 

Bowers.  Merchants  were  solicited  not  to  sell  salt  above  five 
shillings  a  bushel  except  under  certain  circumstances.  Be- 
ing informed  that  Captain  Panic  White  had  a  quantity  of 
powder,  Colonel  Robert  Salter  and  Arthur  Forbes  were  in- 
structed to  secure  it. 

The  Provincial  Council  met  at  the  court  house  in  John- 
ston, on  the  18th  of  December.  Among  the  first  business  was 
the  payment  to  John  Simpson,  Edward  and  Robert  Salter, 
the  sum  of  £8G4  4s  8d  for  the  Captain  White  account.  It 
seems  that  Captain  White  got  to  Ocracoke  with  the  powder 
and  lead,  when  he  was  captured  by  a  British  warship,  but  he 
succeeded  in  getting  away  with  some  of  his  cargo,  which  was 
brought  to  Martinborough  and  bought  by  the  committee. 

In  addition  to  the  rations  already  allowed  the  troops,  the 
Continental  Congress  recommended  that  the  following  be 
allowed  additional :  '"Three  pints  of  peas  or  beans  per  week, 
or  vegetables  equivalent,  rating  the  peas  or  beans  at  a  dollar 
per  Bushel ;  one  pint  of  milk  per  day,  or  at  the  rate  of  1/12 
of  a  dollar  per  pint ;  half  a  pint  of  rice  or  one  pint  of  Indian 
Meal  per  man  per  week ;  one  quart  of  spruce  beer  or  cyder 
per  man  or  nine  gallons  of  Molasses  per  Company  of  one  hun- 
dred men  per  week;  three  pounds  of  candles  to  one  hundred 
men  per  week  for  Guards ;  twenty-four  pounds  soft,  or  eight 
pounds  of  hard  soap  per  one  hundred  men  per  week."  All 
this  was  allowed  and  in  addition,  the  sum  of  two  pence  per 
day  to  each  man,  to  be  paid  by  the  commissaries  and  allowed 
them  in  settlements. 

This  has  been  an  eventful  year  with  the  people  of  Pitt 
County.  Always  professing  allegiance  to  the  King  of  Eng- 
land, they  had  steadily  prepared  to  absolve  that  allegiance. 
They  had  practically  made  the  first  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, and  had  taken  charge  of  the  county  affairs.  The  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  had  grown  from  a  few  men  to  two  hundred 
or  more,  and  more  names  were  being  added  at  nearly  every 
meeting.  Its  men  had  met  every  question  of  State  and 


I  'I  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

wore  taking  part  in  the  birth  of  a  new  nation  that  was  to  be- 
come great,  greater,  and  at  last  the  greatest  of  all  nations. 

Ptobert  Salter  was  Commissary  of  the  Xew  Bern  District ; 
James  Gorham,  Major  of  the  Minute  Men  for  the  same  dis- 
trict ;  Edward  Salter  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  same  district.  The  County  Committee  had 
taken  charge  of  the  County  affairs  and  it  would  seem  that  a 
new  era  had  already  dawned.  The  people,  through  their  rep- 
resentatives had  pledged  themselves  to  stand  by  the  declara- 
tions of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  that  Congress  had 
pledged  itself  to  stand  by  the  declarations  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  So  Independence  was  practically  had,  though  no 
formal  declaration  had  been  made  by  any  duly  delegated 
authorities,  except  that  of  Mecklenburg  and  quasi  resolves  of 
other  counties. 

There  was  110  mistaking  war.  At  Lexington  the  first  blood 
had  been  shed,  and  in  our  own  NY>rth  Carolina  patriotic  blood 
was  hot  for  the  conflict.  Xorth  Carolina  soldiers  were 
camping  in  other  States.  And  the  people  of  Pitt  County 
were  with  the  foremost  in  the  struggle  that  was  at.  hand. 


SKKTCIIKS    OF     1MTT    ror.XTY. 


CHAPTER  THIRTEEN. 

PITT  MKMBKIIS  OF  DISTKK  r  ( '<».\i  MITTKK — ('APT.  .!AMI-;S 
AKMSTRONC. — TKST  AND  PLKIHM-: — Sri'i'i.iKs  !5<>i  <.nr 
PJTT  AT  UATTLK  OF  MOOKK'S  CHKKK — MOKI-;  PATROLLKKS 
— SALT — DELINQUENTS — 1  )AXIKL  FORK — l>or  XTY  M<».\  KV 
— AHTIHU  Moo  UK — MR.  CAIJSOX,  I)A.X<  r.\<;  MASTKK — 
DELEGATES  TO  HALIFAX  I  XSTIM<  rioxs  FOK  I  M>KIM-:XI>- 

E.NClv Joil  X    Si  M  I'SON. 

The  principal  events  in  the  ('ounty  during  177'i  were  the 
meetings  of  the  Committee  :in<l  preparation*  for  resist ina 
British  power.  The  Committee  seems  to  have  heeonie  «r  t<> 
have  been  succeeded,  hy  a  i-eii'idar  etmnty  government  l>y 
the  eiul  of  lh(^  year. 

A  meeting  of  the  District  Committee  was  held  at  New 
Bern,  beginning  January  10th.  Edward  Salter  was  the 
member  from  Pitt.  Roger  Ormond,  <>f  Ueaufiti-i.  having 
died,  .John  Sim|)son  was  elected  in  his  stead,  thus  giving  Pitt 
two  members  on  the  Committee.  Salt  was  a  very  important 
article  and  difficult  to  get.  The  Committee  had  control  of 
its  distribution  and  sale.  The  District  Committee  ordered 
eight  hundred  bushels  sent  to  Martinborongh,  to  be  sold  by 
the  County  Committee. 

The  County  Committee  met  on  the  -2-'><\.  A  "certificate'' 
\vas  issued  to  Captain  James  Armstrong,  Avho  had  raised  a 
Company  of  Minute  ^Men.  Major  George  I«]vans  wa>  author- 
ized to  raisi1  a  Company,  which  should  choose  its  own  officers 
and  after  twelve  months  training,  be  placed  under  the  au- 
thority of  the  Provincial  Congress^  which  should  provide  for 
them  and  pay  for  their  services.  The  chairman  was  ordered 
to  receipt  for  arms  received  from  Robert  Jameson,  for  the 
use  of  the  Continental  Army.  The  Captains  of  the  militia 
were  ordered  to  see  that  the  people  signed  the  pledge  and  te-i 
to  the  committee.  The  chairman  laid  before  the  Committee 
a  letter  from  District  Committee  relating  to  John  Ti-on. 


«  4  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

which  was  ordered  filed.  He  also  produced  receipt  from 
Majors  Batton  and  Gorham  for  a  quantity  of  ammunition. 

He  reported  that  he  had  received  150  1-2  yards  of 

and  was  ordered  to  pay  Rother  Leathern  16d  per  yard.  Also 
a  letter  and  receipt  for  powder,  from  the  Edenton  District 
Committee.  Mr.  Pettit  and  Mr.  Kennady  were  ordered  to 
choose  persons  to  settle  their  affairs. 

Donald  McDonald,  a  Scottish  Highlander,  who  had  settled 
in  Cumberland  County,  received  a  commission  from  Governor 
Martin,  who  was  aboard  the  British  ship  of  war.  Cruiser,  at 
Wilmington,  raised  the  royal  standard  and  soon  had  about 
fifteen  hundred  men  enlisted.  They  were  from  the  Cape 
Fear  section.  Learning  this,  an  emergency  meeting  of  the 
Xew  Bern  District  was  held  February  10th.  It  seems  that 
the  members  from  Pitt  did  not  know  of  this  meeting,  as 
neither  attended.  Colonel  Caswell  was  ordered  to  march 
immediately  with  the  Minute  Men  under  his  command,  and 
join  other  forces  that  might  be  on  the  same  expedition  to 
suppress  the  insurrection.  The  Colonels  of  Dobbs,  Johnston, 
Craven  and  Pitt,  were  ordered  to  enlist  as  many  of  the  mili- 
tia as  was  necessary  and  join  the  Minute  Men  under  Colonel 
Caswell.  The  committees  of  Dobbs  and  Pitt  were  instructed 
to  furnish  Colonel  Caswell  as  much  powder  and  lead  as  they 
could. 

The  battle  of  Moore's  Creek  was  fought  February  27th, 
17TG,  and  was  the  first  American  victory  for  Independence. 
Richard  Caswell,  who  commanded  the  Minute  Men  and 
militia  from  the  eastern  counties  mentions  those  from  ISTew 
Bern,  Craven,  Johnston,  Dobbs  and  Wake,  but  says  nothing 
of  those  from  Pitt  under  Captain  John  Salter,  who  joined  his 
army,  and  are  next  mentioned  in  the  defense  of  Wilmington. 
In  this  battle  about  1,100  Americans  fought  1,600  Tories. 
The  Americans  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek  and  had 
removed  the  planks  of  the  bridge.  The  Tories  attempted  to 
cross  and  many  were  killed.  The  Americans  then  forded 
the  r-7'f-ek  and  attacked  in  the  rear,  making  a  complete  vie- 


SKKTCUKS    OF     PITT    (OI'.NIV.  75 

tory,  killing  about  thirty,  taking  900  prisoners,  among  whom 
was  General  McDonald,  2,000  stands  of  arms  and  £15,000 
in  gold. 

The  Committee  for  the  County  met  February  13th,  ap- 
pointed many  more  patrollers  and  attended  to  other  matters; 
among  them  the  salt  sent  up  by  the  District  Committee  was 
ordered  sold  in  small  quantities  at  five  shillings  per  bushel, 
by  Thomas  Wolfenden,  who  had  the  power  to  swear  any  one 
whom  he  suspected  of  applying  for  more  than  their  necessity 
demanded;  also  that  he  deliver  Colonel  Robert  Salter  one 
hundred  bushels  for  the  use  of  the  army  and  no  salt  was  to  be 
sold  any  one  who  had  not  signed  the  "Test"  or  did  it  before 
the  delivery  of  the  salt. 

The  Committee  was  probably  in  session  several  days,  but 
the  next  meeting  of  record  was  on  the  17th.  Lists  of  men 
drafted  under  the  recent  orders  from  the  District  Committee, 
to  meet  the  Minute  Men  of  Dobbs,  were  presented  and  the 
clerk  was  instructed  to  furnish  to  the  officers  of  the  several 
companies,  the  names  of  the  delinquents  that  they  might  be 
summoned  to  appear  at  Martinborough  on  the  second  Satur- 
day in  March,  to  show  cause  for  their  action — why  they  did 
not  join  the  other  troops  under  Lieutenant  Robert  Salter, 
agreeable  to  orders. 

The  Committee  adjourned  to  March  2d,  when  all  the  busi- 
ness seems  to  have  been  to  order  Daniel  Fore  before  the  Com- 
mittee to  answer  some  expression  he  had  made.  It  then  ad- 
journed to  the  16th,  when  it  was  ordered  that  the  salt  sent  by 
the  District  Committee  be  sold  in  small  quantities  "at  Pub- 
lick  Vandue"  on  the  26th. 

The  defense  of  Xew  Bern  being  a  matter  of  much  concern 
to  several  of  the  District  Committee,  they  held  two  "emer- 
gency" meetings,  one  on  the  10th  and  another  on  the  15th, 
both  of  which  were  approved  by  the  full  Committee  on  the 
22d.  Robert  Jamison  having  advanced  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  pounds,  bounty  money,  to  the  Minute  Men  of  Cap- 


i  (i  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

tain  James  Armstrong's  Company.,  the  public  treasurer  Avas 
ordered  to  pay  it. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  23d.  Arthur  Moore  Avas  ordered  sent 
to  Halifax  to  answer  some  charges  against  him.  Captain 
BoAvers  Avas  allowed  to  take  bond  for  Moore,  AA7ho  AA^as  then  in 
jail.  "Major  Gorhani  presented  a  petition  in  behalf  of  the 
County  for  the  discharge  of  Mr.  Carson,  from  teaching  danc- 
ing. He  also  asked  that  the  families  of  the  militia  and  Min- 
ute1 Alen  be'supplied  Avith  corn  at  los.  -id.  per  barrel.  Both 
petitions  Avere  granted. 

At  the  April  (29th)  meeting,  leave  to  bring  suits  Avas 
granted  to  several  and  Daniel  Fore  appeared  before  the  Com- 
mittee and  Avas  acquitted. 

The  Provincial  Congress  met  at  Halifax,  April  4th.  Pitt 
sent  John  Simpson,  EdAvard  Salter  and  William  Kobeson. 
This  Avas  one  of  the  most  important  assemblies  ever  held  in 
Xorth  Carolina,  and  Avas  held  at  one  of  the  most  critical 
periods  of  our  history.  Many  able  and  experienced  men  Avere 
members. 

On  the  12th,  the  Congress  instructed  the  delegates,  Wil- 
liam Hooper,  Joseph  Hewes  and  John  Penn,  to  concur  with 
the  de-legates  from  the  other  colonies  in  declaring  for  Inde- 
pendence, forming  alliances,  and  making  all  provisions  for 
maintaining  Independence;  but  reserved  the  right  to  make 
its  oAvn  Constitution  and  laws,  of  appointing  delegates  and 
adjusting  its  own  affairs.  The  thanks  of  the  Congress  were 
returnee]  to  Colonel  Richard  CasAvell  and  the  ''brave  officers 
and  soldiers  under  his  command"  for  their  bravery  and  ser- 
vice rendered  Ihe-ir  country  at  the  battle;  of  Moore's  Creek. 
Jame>  (lorham  and  Benjamin  May  Ave>re  elected  officials  to 
receive,  procure  and  purchase  firearms  and  ammunition,  in 
Pitt  Comity,  for  the  use-  of  the  troops.  It  Avas  resolved  to 
raise  l..">00  men  in  the-  four  Districts  of  Kdeiiton,  XCIAV  Bern, 
Halifax  iiud  Wilminglon.  and  of  these*  fifty  Avere  Pitt's  allot- 
ment. In  ilm  election  of  a  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  State, 
•  iolin  Simp-on.  with  .lame--  Coor,  was  elected  for  the  Xew 
Bern  I  lisl  rict. 


SKKTCIIKS    OF    1MTT    <  <)l  '.NTY.  it 

Tho  meeting  of  the  Comity  Committee  on  .June  :J!Mh,  wa- 
unimportant  and  little  was  done.  The  meetings  of  -Inly 
13th,  and  of  August  l()th,  were  very  much  like  the  preceding. 
Permission  to  sue  was  the  principal  business.  And  with 
these  meetings  the  County  Committee  of  Safety  seems  to 
have  disappeared  from  our  history.  It  was  probably  suc- 
ceeded by  a  regular  and  letter  organized  and  working  County 
government. 


78  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  FOURTEEN". 


PROVINCIAL  COUNCIL — PITT  COMPANY  AT  WILMINGTON — 
OFFICERS — RETURNS     OF     MEN — INDEPENDENCE — JOHN 
HUNTER — DELEGATES     TO     HALIFAX — MORE     TROOPS — 
EQUIPMENT  OF  SOLDIERS — JAMES  SALTER — ENLISTMENT 
IN  OTHER  STATES — JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE — ROYALISTS 
PLOT — LACK  OF  ARMS — Two  VAGABOND  YOUNG  MEN- 
PROTEST  AGAINST  GENERAL  MOORE — THE  ASSEMBLY. 

The  Provincial  Committee,  or  Council,  as  it  was  now 
called,  of  Safety  met  at  Wilmington,  June  7th.  It  had  much 
to  do,  and  it  did  much.  A  considerable  force  had  been  concen- 
trated about  Wilmington.  It  was  so  formidable  that  Gov- 
ernor Martin  had  seen  fit  to  sail  with  the  British  fleet  for 
Charleston.  A  brigade  from  the  Xew  Bern  District  was 
there ;  one  of  its  companies  was  from  Pitt.  The  Council 
appointed  John  Salter,  Captain ;  Josiah  Little,  Lieutenant ; 
Luke  Bates,  Ensign  for  those  from  Pitt.  The  regiment  was 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Ashe  and  the  re- 
turns for  July  31st  for  Captain  Robert  Salter s  Company 
were :  present  fit  for  duty,  47  men  ;  total  officers  and  men, 
58;  none  sick,  one  deserted;  25  pounds  of  powder;  100 
pounds  of  lead;  guns  fixed,  43.  Not  another  company  re- 
turned any  powder  and  lead.  The  regiment  had  G59  men; 
but  only  returned  447  fit  for  duty. 

The  Provincial  Council  met  at  Halifax  July  21st.  On 
next  day  news- of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  by  the 
Continental  Congress  reached  the  Council.  The  Council  sim- 
ply had  the  Declaration  read  and  ordered  it  to  be  proclaimed 
in  the  most  public  manner,  that  the  people  might  hear  the 
great  and  good  news  as  early  as  possible. 

The  prisoners  who  were  considered  the  most  dangerous  to 
liberty  were  closely  confined  in  jails.  John  Hunter,  one 
who  had  been  active  in  these  matters,  had  been  taken  while  on 
a  cruise  about  Ocracoke  looking'  for  small  vessels.  He  was 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  70 

then  confined  in  Martinborough  jail.  ITo  became  tired  of 
being  "confined  in  the  narrow  limits  of  this  town,  deprived  of 
all  Company,"  and  wrote  the  Council  accordingly.  There  is 
no  record  of  a  reply.  The  Provincial  Congress  met  at  Hali- 
fax, November  12th.  Pitt  sent  as  its  representatives,  Benja- 
min May,  William  Robeson,  flames  Gorham,  George  Evans 
and  Edward  Salter.  Richard  Caswell  was  made  President 
and  James  Green,  Secretary.  This  Congress  formed  a  Con- 
stitution, provided  for  a  permanent  government  and  ushered 
the  Colony  of  North  Carolina  into  the  State  of  North 
Carolina. 

Provision  was  made  for  raising  more  troops,  and  among  the 
officers  of  one  of  the  companies  to  be  raised  in  the  New  Bern 
District  were  James  May,  Captain ;  James  Lanier,  Jr.,  En- 
sign;  both  from  Pitt.  The  equipments  of  a  soldier  was  to 
consist  of  a  "good  gun,  cartouch  box,  shot  bag  and  powder 
horn,  a  cutlass  or  tomahawk" ;  and  when  the  soldier  was  not 
able  to  equip  himself  it  was  to  be  done  at  the  public  expense. 
Robert  Salter  having  resigned  as  Commissary  of  the  Second 
Regiment,  James  Salter  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

At  the  December  meeting  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  the  mat- 
ter of  the  enlisting  a  number  of  soldiers,  by  the  Continental 
officers,  who  had  been  sent  to  aid  South  Carolina  in  the 
regiments  of  that  State  and  Georgia,  was  considered.  By 
this  North  Carolina  was  robbed  of  the  bounty  advanced  to 
them,  and  of  that  many,  in  making  up  its  quota  in  the  Conti- 
nental Army  and  discredited  with  the  other  States.  Effective 
steps  were  taken  to  prevent  it  in  the  future.  At  this  time, 
there  were  one,  or  perhaps  more,  companies  of  Pitt  County 
soldiers  in  South  Carolina.  Captain  James  Armstrong  was 
about  Charleston  with  his  Company. 

The  following  were  appointed  Justices  of  the  Peace,  by  the 
Congress  at  Halifax,  for  the  County:  John  TTardee,  John 
Simpson,  George  Move,  Lazarus  Pierce,  Amos  Atkinson, 
Peter  Reaves,  John  Williams,  Robert  Salter,  Edmund  Wil- 


SO  SKETCHES    Ol-'    1'ITT    COUNTY. 

liams,  Frederick  Gibble,  John  Bowers,  James  Lanier,  David 
Perkins,  William  Ilines,  James  Latham,  and  William  Travis. 

All  officers  were  required  to  take  a  strict  and  strong  oath 
to  support  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  State  of  Xorth 
Carolina  and  to  abide  by  every  act  of  its  authorities  and  to 
support  the  war  for  Independence. 

Thus  1777  saw  a  change  in  conditions.  There  was  no 
royal  authority  •  it  was  the  State  of  Xorth  Carolina,  with  a 
State  government  of  its  own  people — self-government  in 
truth  and  in  fact, — with  a  Governor,  Richard  C  a  swell,  with 
a  Council,  a  Legislature  of  two  Houses,  an  organized  army  in 
the  field  and  county  governments  attending  to  local  affairs. 

Colonel  Robert  Salter  was  at  Tarboro  July  3d,  where  he 
got  information  that  a  plot  had  been  formed  in  Martin  and 
adjoining  counties  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  Royalists. 
They  were,  at  a  concerted  time,  to  murder  all  the  leading  men 
and  thus  get  possession  of  the  State.  It  was  feared  they 
might  get  charge  of  the  public  magazines  and  leave  the  troops 
without  ammunition.  About  thirty  made  an  attempt  to 
carry  out  their  plan  at  Tarboro,  but  failed.  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel Henry  Jrwin  with  twenty-five  men  captured  them,  dis- 
armed them  and  made  them  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  It 
was  said  there  was  hardly  a  county  in  which  some  men  were 
not  concerned  in  this  plot. 

War  was  in  progress  over  the  whole  country  and  the 
swarms  of  .British  troops  continually  landing  in  America 
made  the  calls  for  more  patriot  troops  often  and  more  urgent. 
Governor  Caswell  issued  his  call  for  drafts.  In  response  to 
this.  Colonel  Simpson  issued  orders  for  a  general  muster  of 
the  militia  at  Martinborough.  After  this  muster  the 
militia  wa>  divided,  but  the  trouble  was  the  lack  of  arms. 
Some  had  >old  them,  some  had  had  them  impressed,  and 
there  were  many  who  were  unable  to  buy  them.  Colonel 
Simpson  complained  that  such  was  not  creditable  to  the  ap- 
1'i-aranro  "I  his  men.  By  some  process  of  war,  perhaps  the 
disbanding  Of  hi-  men  or  other  fortune  of  war,  Major  Gorham 


•SKKTCHKS    OK     1MTT    COr.NTY.  81 


had  become  iin  officer  \viiln>iii  a  command,  ami  turned  into 
the  ranks.  Colonel  Simpson  complained  that  such  would  be 
of  no  good,  when  there  was  a  vacancy  thai  he  (Gorham) 
would  have  acce|)ted. 

In  • I  une  James  Spivey  and  sixteen  oilier-  petitioned  Gov- 
ernor ('aswell  for  some  redress  against  the  depi'edat ions  ol 
William  Lambort  and  Noah  Smith  While,  "Two  Vagobone 
young  men,  that  Resorts  our  Xeighborhowl  Near  the  line  of 
Pill  and  ])ohhs,  on  little  Contentney,  as  their  manner  ol 
living  is  hy  pilfering  and  Stealing  of  Hogs,  which  has  heen 
proved  against  them,  ta  sheep,  \-  hells,  &  anything  they  ('an. 
and  doing  Mischief  to  peoples  Creatures,  they  holh  have  been 
Drafted  Twice,  \T  run  away,  cV  lay  out.  first  in  one  County  and 
then  in  the  Other,  till  the  Couipanyes  Macht,  ^  then  they  will 
skulk  about  and  ».V  be  at  their  Mischief  again.''  It  is  not 
known  what  redress  was  obtained. 

In  August  there  was  a  protest  against  the  appointment  of 
''a  certain  Doctor  Hand,  resident  in  Pennsylvania,''  as  Briga- 
dier General  of  \orth  Carolina  troops,  to  succeed  General 
Moore,  de-ceased.  The  protesl  was  signed  by  sixteen  of  the 
Field  Officers  of  the  North -Carolina  troops,  then  at  Trenton, 
Xcw  Jersey.  Among  those  who  signed  was  Colonel  James 
Armstrong,  of  the  Pitt  Kegiment.  The  Xorth  Carolina  regi- 
ments were  heavy  losers  in  the  campaigns  about  Philadel- 
phia and  in  Xew  Jersey.  The  Kighth  Regiment  was  com- 
manded by  Colonel  James  Armstrong.  Its  losses  were  so 
heavy  that  it  was  so  reduced  that  the  remaining  men  were 
transferred  to  the  Second  Regiment  under  Colonel  John 
Patten. 

1  he  first  session  of  the  lirst  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  North  Carolina,  was  held  at  Xew  Hern.  It  met  April  7th 
and  continued  in  session  to  May  Oth.  Pitt's  representatives 
were,  in  the  Senate,  Robert  Sailer;  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, William  Robeson  and  John  Williams.  Robert  Salter 
was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Magazine,  Stores  and 
Provision?. 


SKETCHES    OF     I'ITT    COFNTY. 


CHAPTER  FFFTFKX. 

X  (  >  S  K  .\  A  TOR  —  Sr  PPL  i  KS  —  IN  SOLVENTS  —  PITT'S  Q  UOTA— 
SIIKRIFFS  FINED-  —  SIMPSON  SUCCEEDS  ROBESON  —  FAL- 
CONER Si'ccKEDs  ASCUE  —  MORE  TROOPS  —  MEMBERS  OF 
A>SI-:MIJI.Y  —  ROBERT  SALTER  —  ROBERT  WILLIAMS,  SFR- 
GEON  —  FIELD  OFFICERS  —  COLONEL  ARMSTRONG  WOUNDED 
DAY  OF  FASTING  —  CHARLESTON  —  MONEY  —  CONTINEN- 
TAL ARMY. 

In  tlit:  Assembly  at  A'cw  Bern,  which  met  April  14th.  177s. 
Pitt  seems  to  have  had  no  representative  in  the  Senate,  as 
none  appears  on  the  roll.  William  Robeson  and  John  Wil- 
liams were  again  in  the  House. 

The  need  of  supplies  of  clothing  for  the  army  was  very 
great.  The  matter  of  furnishing'  it  was  also  a  problem.  To 
remedy  the  trouble,  the  Assembly  passed  an  act  requiring 
each  county  to  furnish  certain  such  supplies.  The  amount 
required  of  Pitt  was,  25  hats,  105  yards  of  linen,  50  yards 
of  woolen  or  double  woven  cotton  cloth,  50  pairs  of  shoes  and 
50  pairs  of  stockings.  This  was  repealed  a  little  later,  other 
provision  having  been  made  to  secure  such  supplies.  This 
Assembly  allowed  Benjamin  Bowers.  Sheriff  of  Pitt,  seven 
pounds  and  sixteen  shillings,  for  thirty-six  insolvent  taxables 
for  the  year  1774.  An  act  was  passed  for  completing  the 
Continental  Battalions  from  the  State,  many  men  still  being 
required  to  fill  the  ranks.  Pitt's  part  of  the  quota  necessary 
under  this  act  was  35,  the  whole  from  the  Stale  being  2.G4S. 

At  ihe  May  term  of  the  District  Superior  Court,  the  sheriff' 
of  Pitt,  and  those  of  Beaufort,  Carteret  and  Hyde  were  fined 
lifiy  pound?,  each,  for  not  attending  the  ('ourt. 

Jlavii  12.  been  elected  Kntry  Taker  for  the-  County.  William 
Robe-nil  resign  ied  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Commons  and 
-lolm  Simpson  succeeded  him.  A  little  later.  John  Simpson 
was  fldfd  one  of  the  Councillors  of  State. 

I    ndrr    ilaic    November    17th.    -John    Simpson    wrote    (Jov- 


SKETCHES    OK     1'IT'l'    COU.NTV.  8IJ 

eniur  Caswell  that  Lieutenant  Josiah  Ascuo  who  was  unable 

to  go  with  the  men  id  the  ^rcond  draft,  on  account  nf  ;i 
wound  ill  his  ankle,  liiid  procured  a  lad  "to  drive  the  curt  or 
j)lay  the  Fife,"  and  wished  1«»  resign.  lie  recommended  the 
acceptance  of  the  resignation  and  the  appoint  men!  of  George 
Falconer  to  succeed  Lieutenant  Asciie.  The  men  of  I  he  sec- 
ond draft  wore  to  meet  the  nexl  Monday  and  Lieutenant  Fal- 
coner was  wanted  there  at  that  time. 

Still  the  need  was  more  troops.  Drafting  men  into  ser- 
vice had  become  an  every  day  business  in  all  sections.  In 
November,  the  Continental  Congress  asked  for  more  troops. 
The  Council  advised  Governor  Caswell  to  immediately  raise 
1,'32-i  men  out  of  the  militia,  which,  with  the  2,04S  already 
raised  and  the  addition  of  the  new  levies  and  regulars  then  on 
furloughs,  would  complete  the  5,000  required  by  the  Congress 
for  the  aid  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 

The  Assembly  met  at  Halifax,  January  10th.  1770.  The 
roll  of  members  present  at  the  opening  showed  Robert  Sailer 
as  the  Senator  from  Pitt,  but  the  list  of  members  given  at  the 
close  of  the  session  gives  that  of  Edward  Saltor  a-  the  S-i  a- 
tor.  John  Simpson  and  .John  Williams  were  again  in  the 
House.  John  Simpson  having  been  elected  a  member  of  the 
Council  of  State,  resigned  and  James  Gorham  was  elected  in 
his  stead.  The  Assembly  recommended  Robert  Salter.  "Re- 
cruiting Officer  for  Pitt  (the  Governor's  Council  having  ap- 
pointed him  in  1777),  to  command  the  detachment  of  militia, 
which  might  be  sent  as  an  escort  to  the  Commissioners  for 
running  the  dividing  line  between  Xorfh  Carolina  and 
Virginia. 

Dr.  Robert  Williams  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  militia 
in  March.  In  a  requisition  to  Governor  Caswell  for  medi- 
cine, he  was  anxious  f,,r  all  the  medicines  he  could  get.  He 
was  then  at  Cam])  Liberty  Town. 

Colonel  Robert  Salter,  Recruiting  OtUcer.  and  recom- 
mended to  command  the  escort  for  the  boundary  Commission- 
ers, died  about  Mav,  .  .  John  Williams,  of  Surry 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

County,  immediately  applied  for  the  position,  but  the  im- 
portance of  getting  some  tobacco  delivered  at  once  to  pay  for 
some  cannon,  made  Governor  Caswell  make  the  apointment 
without  delay  and  Benjamin  Hawkins  got  the  place. 

The  State  Council,  at  its  July  meeting,  appointed  Edward 
Salter,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  in  place  of  George  Evans,  who 
declined  to  serve.  Benjamin  May  was  appointed  First  Ma- 
jor and  John  Enloe,  Second  Major,  as  Eield  Officers  for  the 
County. 

June  20th  was  fought  the  battle  of  Stono  Ferry,  South 
Carolina.  About  1,200  Americans  failed  to  dislodge  about 
700  British,  who  were  advantageously  posted.  The  Ameri- 
can loss  was  something  over  a  hundred  killed  and  wounded, 
among  them  being  some  from  Pitt.  Of  Xorth  Carolinians, 
ten  were  killed;  wounded,  twenty-six.  Of  the  wounded  was 
Col.  James  Armstrong.  In  the  following  November  he  pre- 
sided over  a  Court  of  Inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  Colonel 
Gideon  Lamb  at  Brandy-wine,  which  acquitted  Colonel  Lamb 
"with  Honor." 

William  Bryan,  Brigadier  General  for  the  Xew  Bern 
District,  resigned  in  the  spring  and  the  Assembly  nominated 
William  Caswell  and  John  Simpson  for  the  vacancy.  When 
the  Assembly  proceeded  to  an  election,  Caswell  was  elected. 

At  the  State  Council  meeting  at  Halifax,  in  October,  Col- 
onel Herritage  presented  a  certificate  showing  that  Dr.  Robert 
Williams,  Jr.,  had  been  appointed  Surgeon  to  the  State  Regi- 
ment in  March  last.  It  was  then  directed  that  lie  be  paid 
fro] a  that  date. 

It  was  not  a  bright  prospect  that  presented  itself  to  the 
Ameiicans  at  the  beginning  of  1TSO.  Yet  there  were  manly 
spirits  and  brave  men  who  kept  the  fires  of  liberty  burning 
and  responded  to  every  call  for  men  and  means.  The  cry 
wa-  "more  men."  The  response  was  always  encouraging. 
In  the  midst  of  these  struggles  and  troubles,  a  reliance  on  a 
Higher  I'o\ver  was  not  forgotten.  The  Continental  Congress 
is.- u<  d  a  proclamation  setting  apart  Wednesday.  April  26th, 


SKKTCHKS    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY.  85 

1780,  to  "he  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting,  liiimiliat  ion  and 
prayer,  that  wo  may  with  one  heart  and  one  voice;  implore  the 
sovereign  Lord  of  Heaven  and  earth  to  remember  mercy  in 
his  judgments;  to  make  us  sincerely  penitent,  for  our  Iran-- 
gressions ;  to  prepare  us  for  deliverance,  and  to  remove  the 
evils  which  he  hath  heeii  pleased  to  visit  us  ;  to  banish  vice  and 
irreligion  from  amongst  us,  and  to  establish  piety  and  virtue 
bv  his  divine  grace;  to  bless  all  public,  councils  throughout 
the  United  States,  giving  them,  wisdom,  iirmness  and  una- 
nimity, and  directing  them  to  the  best  measures  for  the  pub- 
lic good."  Ft  was  generally  observed. 

May  12th.  General  Lincoln  surrendered  Charleston  to  the 
British,  but  only  after  a  long  and  gallant  defense.  Xorth 
Carolina  had  many  troops  in  his  army.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  after  Brandy  wine,  when  Colonel  James  Arm- 
strong's command  was  so  weakened  that  he  was  reduced,  his 
men  went  into  Colonel  Patten's  command.  Colonel  Patten's 
Battalion  was  included  in  the  surrender  of  Charleston,  and 
that  included  his  Pitt  County  men. 

As  difficult  as  it  was  to  obtain  recruit-,  the  matters  of 
money  with  which  to  pay  them  was  often  as  great  a  difficulty. 
The  last  of  May  Colonel  'lames  Armstrong  obtained  a  war- 
rant from  Governor  Caswell  for  $50,000  for  the  recruiting 
service.  Swn  Thereafter  he  went  on  a  recruiting  expedition 
to  Cross  Creek.  With  what  success  he  met  is  not  told. 

By  act  of  the  Continental  Congress,  after  January  1st, 
next  (1781),  the  Continental  Army  was  to  consist  of  four 
regiments  of  Cavalry:  four  of  Artillery;  forty-nine  of  Infan- 
try, exclusive  of  Colonel  Maxell's  regiment:  and  one  regi- 
ment of  Artificers.  .Kadi  regiment  of  Infantry  should  con- 
sist of  nine  companies,  and  cadi  company  should  consist  of 
sixty-four  men,  commissioned  officers  and  privates. 


80  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  SIXTEEN. 


GUILFORD  COURT-HOUSE — PITT  MILITIA — JOEL  TRUSS — 
OLD  BRITISH  ROAD — BRITISH  PASS  THROUGH  PITT — 
CATTLE  AND  PROVISIONS  CAPTURED — -SKIRMISHES — MEN 
AND  GUNS  AT  MARTINBOROUGH — TROUBLES  SOUTH  OF 
PITT — CALL  FOR  TROOPS — PRISONERS  IN  JAIL — BUCK'S 
BARN — LENIENCY. 

The  year  1781  did  riot  dawn  bright  for  the  cause  of  liberty 
in  North  Carolina,  and  strong  efforts  were  being  made  to 
raise  men  arid  money,  both  of  which  were  so  badly  needed. 
Men  from  Pitt  County  were  in  the  armies  in  South  Carolina, 
in  Virginia,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  elsewhere.  North  Caro- 
lina was  being  invaded  by  a  victorious  army  and  only  a  few 
of  its  militia,  with  some  troops  from  some  other  States,  could 
be  at  its  front.  It  was  a  pursuit  and  retreat  until  General 
Greene  faced  about  and  turned  back  to  fight  Lord  Corn- 
wallis.  On  the  15th  of  March  they  met  at  Guilford  Court- 
House,  and  though  General  Greene  withdrew  from  the  field 
at  the  end  of  the  fight,  it  was  practically  an  American  vic- 
tory. Pitt  County  had  many  militia  under  General  Butler  in 
that  fight.  Dr.  Robert  Williams  was  a  surgeon  there. 
There  has  been  much  written  about  how  the  militia  run  on 
that  occasion.  It  was  only  a  mistake  in  understanding 
orders. 

An  interesting  incident  was  the  action  of  Joel  Truss,  of  the 
Pitt  Militia.  He  was  a  giant  in  size  and  strength,  being 
near  seven  feet  tall.  It  seems  that  the  "running"  was  the 
result  of  an  order  to  fall  back  to  a  certain  position  beyond  a 
fence.  Some  did  this,  among  them  being  Joel  Truss.  In 
his  hurry  to  reach  the  fence,  he  had  somehow  become  sepa- 
rated from  his  gun.  Once  behind  the  fence  he  found  others 
likewise  without  guns.  And,  too,  he  was  fighting  mad,  and 
delivered  himself  something  like  this;  ''.Boys,  just  look  yon- 
der \vha1  guns  they  have.  Why,  1  can  put  my  thumb  in  one 


SKKTCHKS    OF     1MTT    COUNTY. 

and  turn  it  all  about.  (ITis  thumb  was  almost  a-  iarii-e  a>  a 
lady's  wrist,  and  lie  was  alluding  to  soino  small  caiiiinn.  ) 
Then  bursting  into  a  volume  <»f  oaths  and  curses,  lie  added, 
"D—  -'in,  if  they  will  throw  down  those  guns  and  tight  fair. 
I'll  whip  half  do/en  of  them  myself,'7'  eni|»hasi/.ing  it  with 
ominous  shakings  of  his  club-like  lists.  And  then,  with 
others,  he  retreated  rather  hurriedly. 

Lord  Cornwall]'*  retreated  to  Wilmington,  ai.d  on  April 
25th  left  there  f«»r  Virginia.  After  threatening  Xew  Bern,  his 
army  divided  and  took  parallel  routes  to  Halifax.  One  divi- 
sion went  by  or  near  to  Kinston  and  on  through  Greene 
County.  That  division  or  a  detachment  crossed  the  Moccasin 
River,  below  the  present  site  of  Snow  Hill.  The  signs  of  an 
old  road,  known  as  the  British  road,  may  yet  be  seen  across 
some  parts  of  the  Streeter  place  and  the  John  Bynum  place  in 
Greene  County.  It  crossed  the  Middle  Swamp  bark  of  the 
]S~oah  Joyner  place  and  the  Xoali  Joyner  house  was  built  in 
that  road.  It  can  not  be  traced  further  north.  But  there 
was  an  Indian  or  early  crossing  place  on  Little  Contcntnea 
between  theFarmville  and  Tyson  bridges,  in  an  almost  direct 
line  for  a  continuation  of  this  old  road  northward,  and  it  must 
have  been  where  this  old  road  crossed  that  creek.  That  de- 
tachment must  have  passed  through  the  county  along  the 
present  road  to  Tarboro,  and  on  to  Halifax.  Another  passed 
by  way  of  Peacock's  bridge,  where  a  skirmish  was  had  with 
400  Americans,  under  General  Gorham, *  who  were  routed  by 
the  SOO  British,  under  Tarleton. 

There  must  have  been  some  fighting  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  line  between  Pitt  and  Edgecombe  in  what  is  known  as  the 
Otter's  Creek  section.  Only  a  few  years  ago  some  lumber- 
men found  some  very  large  pines,  with  balls  near  the  hearts. 
They  were  shot  into  the  trees  when  they  were  young  and 
years  of  growth  had  covered  them. 

Another  incident  of  the  passage  of  the  British   army   is 

*  This  was  no  doubt  James  Gorham  of  Pitt,  and  the  400  Pitt  militia  with  Governor 
Xash,  at  Halifax,  to  meet  Lord  Cornwalli's,  must  have  been  the  same  men  and  commanded 
by  him  (Gorham). 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

worth  recording.  There  were  many  Tories  in  Edgecombe, 
and  when  they  heard  of  Lord  Cornwallis  coming,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  collect  all  the  cattle,  hogs  and  general  supplies  they 
could  for  his  army.  In  collecting  little  attention  was  paid 
the  rights  of  others,  but  they  were  careful  about  their  own. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Edward  Salter,  getting  information  of 
such  proceedings,  marched  up  there  with  the  Minute  Men 
under  him  and  captured  the  entire  camp  and  supplies,  and 
the  poor  British  had  none  of  them.  It  seems  that  later 
other  supplies  were  collected,  but  not  in  such  quantities. 
Again  they  were  captured.  Captain  Tilman,  with  thirty 
horses  from  this  county  and  a  few  from,  Craven  went  up  and 
captured  Benjamin  Vichous,  one  of  the  ringleaders,  and 
twenty-one  head  of  cattle.* 

During  his  march  from  Wilmington  an  American  force, 
though  small,  was  on  his  rear  and  front.  Though  no  battle 
was  fought,  he  was  confronted  at  Swift  Creek  and  also  Fish- 
ing Creek,  and  at  Halifax  there  was  gathering  a  large  force. 
Governor  Xash  was  there  with  400  from  Pitt,  and  a  larger 
number  from  Edgecombe,  and  General  Allen  Jones  with  the 
militia  of  Northampton.  At  each  place  there  was  some 
skirmishing  without  results. 

On  May  26th,  Colonel  James  Armstrong  wrote  General 
Su inner  that  there  were  about  fifty  men  at  Martinborough 
and  about  thirty  guns  in  good  order  and  twenty  more  that 
would  be  repaired.  He  was  also  hoping  to  increase  both  the 
number  of  men  and  that  o,f  guns,  lie  had  been  reduced  to 
half  pay  some  time  about  the  first  of  the  year  and  had  since 
resigned,  to  be  recommended  To  be  retired  on  half  pay. 

Some  British  and  Tories  became  troublesome  in  the  country 
south  of  the  Xcuse  "River.  General  William  Caswell  ex- 
pected them  to  pass  through  Pitt,  and  in  September  ordered 
the  entire  militia  of  the  county  to  be  collected  and  to  skirmish 
towards  Xeuse  "River,  in  front  of  the  eneniv.  There  the 


SKKTOIIKS    OF    J'ITT    COr.NTY.  M» 

militia  was  to  join  his  command,  General  ('aswell  \va-  at 
Kingston  and  reported  tliat  he  had  heard  heavy  firing  to  the 
northward  sonic  days  previous.  If  a  battle  or  skirmish  was 
fought  northward  of  Kingston,  there  is  no  record  of  it. 

The  Assembly,  at,  Halifax,  early  in  the  year,  made  an 
urgent: call  for  troops  for  the  army  about  Wilmington,  which 
was  still  ocnpied  by  the  British.  Pitt's  quota  for  ibis  pur- 
pose was  150.  Con.  William  Oaswcll  resigned  as  Brigadier 
General  of  the  Xew  Bern  District  and  Col.  James  Armstrong 
was  elected  to  succeed  him,  but  (ieneral  Caswell  was  rein- 
stated. 

The  Avar  was  now  drawing  to  a  elose.  The  year  1782  was 
one  of  more  anxiety  than  events,  yet  there  were  no  less  war 
preparations.  Disaffection  was  still  found  among  some  peo- 
ple. Deserters  and  Royalists  who  were  too  active  were  often 
confined  in  the  common  jails.  Pitt  jail  was  often  used  for 
this  purpose  and  there  was  a  house  used  for  the  same  purpose 
on  Tar  River,  at  what,  was  later  known  as  the  "Lower  Taft 
Landing."  It  was  a  large  house,  built  of  hewed  logs  and 
known  as  "Buck's  Barn/'  having  been  built  for  a  barn.  It 
was  standing  long  after  the  Revolution.  On  .January  14th, 
Col.  James  Armstrong  sent  Captain  Mound  a  discharge  for 
Thomas  Davis,  claiming  that  Davis  had  reenlisted  since  his 
desertion,  and  asked  that  Davis  and  twenty  others  who  tied 
from  the  action  at  Guilford  Court-House  be  sent  to  Halifax. 
Job  Tyson,  a  young  man,  who  had  enlisted,  after  the  fall  of 
Charleston,  for  the  defense  of  the  State,  accepted  a  parole 
from  Lord  Cornwallis,  when  he  passed  through.  Becoming 
uneasy  for  his  safety,  he  fled  to  South  Carolina,  and  not 
knowing,  could  not  avail  himself  of  the  proclamations  of  con- 
ditional pardon.  Having  never  taken  up  arms  against  the 
State,  when  he  returned  many  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  the  county  petitioned  Governor  Burke  for  bis  pardon, 
which  was  no  doubt  granted. 


90  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  SEVE^TTEE]NT. 


PEACE  AND  INDEPENDENCE — PART  OF  PITT  GIVEN  TO  BEAU- 
FORT— JOHN  SIMPSON — ^TEGRO  BURNED  FOR  MURDER — 
ACTS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY — ARMSTRONG  AND  SALTER, 
STATE  OFFICERS — JUSTICES  RESIGN — PART  OF  CRAVEN 
GIVEN  TO  PITT — ARMSTRONG,  BRIGADIER-GENERAL — 
PITT  ACADEMY — GREENVILLE — WILLIAM  BLOUNT — 
GREENVILLE  FERRY — SIMPSON  PAID. 

Peace,  with  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  was  concluded  in  February,  1783.  With  no  for- 
eign foe  to  contend  against,  civil  matters  and  rebuilding  the 
losses  of  the  country  in  so  long  and  disastrous  a  war  began 
to  occupy  the  attention  of  the  people.  Pitt  County  had  lost 
many  of  its  good  citizens,  but  had  suffered  much  less  than 
some  other  counties  that  were  in  or  nearer  the  scenes  of 
conflict. 

At  this  time  all  of  Chocowinity  "Xeck"  was  a  part  of  Pitt 
County.  There  was  no  road  from  Washington  on  the  south 
of  the  river.  An  act  this  year  provided  for  "a  ferry  across 
Pamplico  River  at  the  town  of  Washington,  and  the  clearing 
a  road  and  making  a  causeway  through  the  swamp  and  marsh 
opposite  to  the  said  town,  into  the  old  road  the  nearest  and 
best  way."  The  court  of  Pitt  County  had  charge  of  the 
ferry  and  fixed  the  fees. 

John  Simpson  complained  to  the  Assembly  that  he  had  lost 
some  certificates  and  wanted  the  Assembly  to  make  them 
good.  This  was  refused. 

Some  time  about  the  close  of  the  war,  perhaps  this  year  or 
the  last,  an  awful  thing  was  done  in  Pitt  County.  It  was 
publicly  burning  a  negro  by  virtue  of  the  sentence  of  the 
court.  Tier  name  was  Rose  and  she  had  murdered  her  mis- 
tress, being  aided  by  another  slave.  The  facts  as  learned 
about  it,  arc  thai  John  Tyson,  and  Sibbcy,  his  wife  or  sister, 
lived  on  the  north  side  of  Contentnea  Creek,  about  opposite 


SKKTCJ1KS    OK    J'ITT    <  <H   NTY. 

the  \Y.  A.  Barrett  place,  near  Earniville.  They  had  t\v<» 
slaves.  Shade  and  Rose.  Sibbey  was  very  cruel  to  them  and 
treated  them  very  hadly.  With  the-  help  of  Shade,  Rose  mur- 
dered Sibbey.  It  was  premeditated  and  cold-blooded.  When 
it  was  found  that  Rose  and  Shade  had  commit  tod  the  crime, 
they  wore  arrested.  Shade  boiinr  a  very  valuable  negro  and 
only  aided  and  abetted  Rose  in  the  crime,  was  sei,t  south  and 
sold.  Rose  was  taken  to  jail,  tried,  convicted  and  sentenced 
to  be  burned  at  the  stake,  which  sentence  was  carried  out  by 
the  sheriff  at  or  near  the  town  of  Martinborough.* 

Among  the  acts  of  the  Assembly  for  1784  were  those  for 
cleaning;  out  Tar  River  and  Fishing  £1reek,  in  the  counties  of 
Pitt  and  Edgecorabe,  for  the  purpose  of  opening  them  for 
navigation;  making  Martinbcrough,  Lanier's  (on  Tranter's 
Creek),  Edward  Salter's,  Dnpre's  and  Ellis's  Landings  (just 
above  Blue  Banks,  now  public  landing),  places  for  the  inspec- 
tion of  tobacco;  and  the  repeal  of  the  ''Cession  Act'f  of  the 
year  before.  Against  this  many  members  of  the  House  pro- 
tested, among  them  being  John  Jordan  and  Richard  Moye, 
Pitt's  representatives.  It  had  been  the  custom  to  allow 
each  member  of  the  Assembly  traveling  expenses  for  one  day 
for  each  county  passed  through  in  attending  the  sessions,  but 
this  session  changed  it  to  the  mileage  system.  Colonel  James 
Armstrong  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Council  and 
Colonel  Salter  State  tax-collector  for  the  County. 

Benjamin  May  and  Robert  Move  resigned  as  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  this  year. 

One  of  the  principal  acts  of  1785  relating  to  Pitt  County 
was  giving  Beaufort  a  good  part  of  its  eastern  portion.  The 
act  made  the  new  line  as  follows: 

"Beginning  at  the  Craven  County  line  where  it  crosses 
Creeping  Swamp  and  running  with  Creeping  Swamp  and 

*  The  account  of  this  crime  and  its  punishment  is  from  an  honored  citizen,  who  was 
well  versed  in  the  history  of  his  section. 

tAt  the  close  of  the  Revolution  the  Colonial  Government  was  badly  in  debt,  and 
States  ceded  their  public  lands  to  the  National  Government  to  assist  in  paying  those 
debts.  Among  them  was  North  Carolina,  which,  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly  at  Hillsboro. 
April,  17S4,  ceded  all  its  lands  now  comprising  the  State  of  Tennessee.  The  National 
Government  did  not  accept  this  cession  at  once,  and  the  Assembly  of  October,  17S4,  at 
New  Bern,  repealed  the  C'ession  Act. 


92 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


Chicod  Swamp  to  the  month  of  Round  Island  Branch, 
then  a  direct  course  to  the  mouth  of  Pitch  Hole  Branch, 
then  with  the  Swamp  to  Bear  Creek,  then  down  Bear 
Crook  to  Tar  River,  then  down  the  River  on  the  north 
side  to  the  mouth  of  Tranter's  Creek,  then  up  said  Creek  to 
Martin  County  line,  then  with  .Martin.  Beaufort  and  Craven 
lines  to  the  beginning,"  all  the  territory  therein  being  added 
to  and  made  a  part  of  Beaufort  County. 


co 


I'ITT  CUI'NTY,  AFTER  CESSION  TO    BKAFOHT    17V>-   FROM  CRAVEN   17b6. 
From  pen  sketch  l,y  II.  T.  K.,   1910. 

Richard  Evans  died  without  making  title  to  many  of  the 
lots,  sold  by  the  lottery  in  Martinborough,  and  the  Martin- 
bonm^h  act  was  amended  for  the  purpose  of  having  the  titles 
made. 


SKKTCIIKS    <>!•'     1MTT    COINTY.  1K> 

The  A>seinhly  also  elected  Colonel  James  Armstrong 
Brigadier  General  for  the  Xc\v  Bern  District. 

The  two  most  important  events  of  17*<>  to  Pitt  were,  the 
incorporation  of  the  Pitt  Academy,  to  be  established  at  Mar- 
tin borough.  (  It  had  as  trustees,  some  of  the  most  prominent 
men  of  the  State.  They  were1  Governor  Richard  Caswell, 
Hugh  Williamson,  William  Blount,  .John  Simpson,  .lames 
Armstrong,  James  Gorham,  John  Hawkes,  John  Williams, 
Robert  Williams.  Arthur  "Forbes,  Benjamin  "M"ay,  John  May 
and  Reading  Blount)  ;  and  the  annexing  a  part  of  (/raven 
to  Pitt,  making  the  new  line  as  follows: 

"Beginning  at  the  Pitt  line  where  Creeping  Swamp  inter- 
sects the  same,  thence  down  the  run  or  middle  of  the  Clay 
Hoot  Swamp  to  the  run  of  Swift's  Creek  Swamp,  thence  up 
the  run  of  the  same  to  Isaac  Gardner's  "Ford,  or  path  across 
the  same,  thence1  a  direct  line  to  the  lower  landing  on  (Irindal 
Creek,  which  is  in  about  half  a  mile  of  said  ('reek,  thence 
down  the  said  Grindal  ('reek  to  the  River  Xense.  thence  up 
the  meanders  of  the  "River  Xeuse  to  the  mouth  of  Great 
Contcntney  Creek,  thence  up  the  said  ('reek  to  the  mouth  of 
.Little  Contentney  Creek,  thence  up  the  same  to  the  line  of 
the  County  of  Pitt,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  annexed  to 
Pitt.'"  Within  this  territory  is  very  nearly  all  of  Swift 
Creek  township,  and  the  lower  parts  of  Chieod  and 
Content  uca. 

The  same  act  that  incorporated  Pitt  Academy  changed  the 
name  of  Martinborough  to  that  of  "Greenesvillc,"  said  to 
have  been  in  honor  of  General  Xathaniel  Greene,  the  hero  of 
Guilford  Court-House. 

Xathaniel  Greene  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  in  17  li'.  lie 
entered  the  army  in  1774:  was  made  a  Brigadier  General  in 
1775  and  a  [Major  General  in  1770.  In  17SO  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  succeed  Benedict  Arnold  in  command  at  We-t 
Point  and  a  short  time  thereafter  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  armies  of  the  South  to  succeed  General  Gates.  After 


94  SKETCHES    OE    PITT     COUNTY. 

a  scries  of  marches  and  masterly  maneuvres,  he  fought  the 
Battle  of  Guilford  Conrt-House,  March  15th,  1781,  having  a 
force  of  4,400,  much  of  it  being  raw  militia,  with  Lord  Corn- 
wallis,  who  had  a  veteran  force  of  2.200  and  practically  won 
a  notable  victory  that  led  np  to  Lord  Cornwallis's  defeat  at 
Yorktown.  ITe  then  began  a  brilliant  and  successful  cam- 
paign in  South  Carolina,  and  after  the  war  was  over  returned 
to  Rhode  Island.  Tie  soon  moved  to  Georgia,  where  he  died 
in  17^1!. 

In  the  territory  annexed  from  Craven  lived  William 
Blonnt,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress 
since  1782,  and  several  times  a  member  of  the  Assembly.  He 
had  landed  interests  in  what  is  now  Tennessee,  and  being- 
charged  with  purchasing  land  from  the  Indians  contrary  to 
custom,  he  made  a  denial  of  the  same  to  Governor  Caswell  by 
letter.  ITe  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  for 
1787  and  in  the  Assembly  from  Pitt,  in  the  Senate,  in  1789. 

A  free  ferry  was  established  at  Greenville  in  1787  by  the 
Assembly,  and  a  small  tax  provided  for  its  maintenance.  It 
is  supposed  to  have  been  about  where  the  bridge  no\v  stands. 

The  Assembly  this  year  settled  with  John  Simpson  a 
matter  which  had  been  standing  since  17'sl.  Tic  had  turned 
his  vouchers  over  to  the  Auditors,  who  lost  them,  and  it  took 
all  that  long  time  to  get  the  matter  adjusted  and  to  find  that 
the  State  was  indebted  to  him.  ITe  had  never  received  part 
of  his  pay  as  a  member  c>f  the  Assembly  of  1782. 

The  delegates  of  the  several  States  having  framed  a  Con- 
stitution, it  was  read,  and  considered  some  time  in  December. 
but  nut  adopted  at  this  session. 


SKF.TC1IKS    OF     1MTT    <o|.\TY. 


CIIAPTF.U    KK1IITKKN. 


Tio.N    RK.I  KCTKI>    -MOTIONS    AND    VOTI-:    Tn  i.i;i  •.<  >.v 
LOCATION     OK     CAPITAL — CONSTITKTIOX      ADOPTKD— - 

A.MKNHM  KNTS    IvKOO.MM  KNDKD—  'I"  II  K    I  '  N  I  VKIISIT  Y Foi:- 

I-;K;N   STATK — XE\V  COURT-HOUSE — .Ioii.\   SIMPSON    DKAI> 
-BorvnKs    KOK  MANUFACTURES — PITT    IKON    MINKS — 
PITT  IN   TIIK  RKVOLUTION — GOVKKNOK  CASWKM/S  OPIN- 
ION. 

The  Convention  for  considering  the  Federal  Constitution, 
as  proposed  by  the  Continental  Convention  at  Philadelphia, 
met  at  Hillsboro,  July  21st,  17*S.  Pitt  sent  Sterling  I)u- 
pree,  Robert  Williams.,  Richard  Move,  Arthur  Forbes  an* I 
David  Perkins.  All  but  David  Perkins  were  present  on  the 
opening  day.  ITe  did  not  a'et  there  till  August  1st. 

The  report  of  the  Coniniittee  of  the  Whole  said  that  a 
Declaration  of  Rights,  together  with  amendments,  ought  t-> 
bo  laid  before  Congress  and  a  Convention  of  the  States,  be- 
fore Xorth  Carolina  should  ratify  the  Constitution. 

flames  Iredell.  seconded  by  John  Skinner,  moved  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Constitution  and  recommended  six  amendments. 
This  was  lost  by  a  vote  of  84  yeas  to  1S4  nays.  Pitt's  dele- 
gates, except  David  Perkins,  who  voted  yea,  voted  no.  Then 
the  Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  184  to  83,  Pitt's  delegates  voting  as  on  first  question. 
This  Convention  selected  the  farm  of  Isaac  Hunter,  in  Wake 
County,  or  any  place  within  ten  miles  thereof,  as  the  location 
for  establishing  the  State  Capital. 

The  year  ITS'.*  was  notable  for  two  important  and  ]<mg 
steps  in  progress  by  Xorth  Carolina.  They  were  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Federal  Constitution  and  the  establishment  of  the 
University. 

The  Convention  that  adopted  the  Constitution,  met  at  Fay- 
etteville,  in  Xovember.  In  it  were  many  of  the  men  wh" 
had  been  members  of  the  Hillsboroueh  Convention  the  voar 


'JG  SKETCHES    OF    1'TTT    COr.XTY. 

before,  which  rejected  the  same  Constitution.  Pitt's  dele- 
gates were  William  Blount,  Shadrach  Allen.  James  Arm- 
strong, Samuel  Simpson  and  -Fames  Bell,  all  of  whom  were 
present  at  the  opening.  On  the  fifth  day  a  resolution,  re- 
jecting the  Constitution  until  certain  amendments  were 
added,  was  lost  l>y  a  vote  of  S_>  to  1^7,  all  of  Pitt's  delegates 
voting  against  it.  The  question  was  then  on  the  adoption  of 
it.  It  passed  by  a  vote  of  105  to  77,  Pitt's  delegates  voting 
for  it. 

Tims  Xorth  Carolina  became  the  twelfth  member  of  the 
United  States  of  America — the  American  Union.  And  it 
was  unanimously  recommended  that  its  representatives  in 
Congress  endeavor  to  obtain  the  adoption  of  the  amend- 
ments recommended  by  this  Convention. 

The  Assembly  passed  the  act  for  establishing  the  Uni- 
versity. It  provided  all  the  machinery  for  its  establishment, 
and  among  its  trustees  was  "William  Blount.  The  University 
was  not  opened  for  the  reception  of  students  until  1795. 

During  the  period  between  the  rejection  of  the  constitu- 
tion by  the  Convention  at  Ilillsboro,  in  August.  17S8,  and  its 
adoption  by  Ihe  Convention  at  Fayetteville,  in  Xovember, 
17S'.>.  Xorth  Carolina  was  referred  to  by  the  papers  and  in 
many  other  \vay>  as  a  "Foreign  State.''  The  new  government 
had.  been  organized  and  put  into  effect  with  the  inauguration 
of  George  Washington.  April  ']0th.  1  7>(.'. 

Another  act  of  "1. 7SO  was  that  for  the  building  uf  a  court- 
house, prison  and  stocks  at  Greenville,  and  for  keeping  the 
same  in  repair,  for  which  a  tax  of  not  exceeding  eight  pence 
on  every  hundred  acres  ,,f  land  and  not  exceeding  two  shill- 
ing-, "like  money,"  on  every  taxable  person,  and  a  tax  of  two 
shilling-  on  every  hundred  pounds  value  of  town  propertv  in 
said  county,  was  laid.  James  Armstrong1,  Shadrach  Allen. 
.John  .A love,  Arthur  Forbes,  Samuel  Simpson.  Benjamin  Bell 
and  William  Rlount  were  appointed  the  commissioners  to 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  !>  < 

have  charge  of  the  money  raised  for  this  purpose,  have  the 
building  erected  and  sell  the  old  court-house  and  prison. 

Samuel  Simpson,  member  of  the  Fayetteville  Convention, 
was  a  son  of  John  Simpson.  John  Simpson  died  .March  1st, 
JTiSS,  lacking  seven  days  of  being  sixty  years  old.  He  had 
figured  very  prominently  in  Pitt's  affairs  and  also  in  those  of 
tho  Colony  and  State.  He  had  filled  almost  every  otlice,  from 
•Justice  of  the  Peace  to  Councillor  of  State  in  civil  affairs, 
and  from  private  to  Brigadier  General  of  Militia,  in  military 
affairs.  He  had  offered  his  services  to  the  Royal  Governor 
when  lie  heard  that  Regulators  were  marching  to  _\ew  Pern 
to  prevent  Fanning  from  taking  a  seat  in  the  Colonial  As- 
sembly; and  he  was  among  the  first  to  make  open  resistance 
to  that  same  authority  when  the  rights  of  his  people  were?  in 
jeopardy.  He  was  a  great  and  useful  man,  and  had  not 
death  claimed  him  so  early  he  would  have  reached  higher  and 
greater  honors  in  the  Slate  and  nation. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  bounties  were  offered 
for  manufacturing  enterprises  that  would  supply  the  neces- 
sities for  domestic  use  and  materials  for  war.  Iron  foundries 
were  badly  needed.  Iron  ore  was  not  so  plentiful  as  now  and 
many  mines  were  worked  that  have  long  since  been  abandoned 
as  not  paying.  It  is  said  that  some  ore  from  Pitt  was  used 
during  the  war  for  manufacturing  various  articles.  In  several 
places  in  Chicod  Township,  an  ore.  containing  iron  is  found, 
though  not  in  large  quantities.  In  fact  the  ore  is  poor,  but  it 
is  said  it  sufficed  for  many  purposes  in  those  times.  Another 
bed  of  the  same  quality  of  ore  is  on  Tranter's  ('reek,  in  Pac- 
tolus  township.  This  is  some  better  than  that  of  Chicod. 
Both  were  no  doubt  used  in  those  days. 

The  people  of  Pitt  were  true  patriots,  and  there  is  no  rec- 
ord of  any  Tories  being  found  in  it  at  any  time,  except  Tison 
and  one  or  two  others,  unless  some  were  included  in  the  plot 
of  1777.  which  ended  with  the  capture  of  thirty  by  Colonel 
Henry  Irwin,  at  Tarboro.  If  any  were  concerned  in  it,  it  is 
yet  to  be  learned.  In  ITOT),  there  were  750  taxable  men  in 
7 


!)8  SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY. 

the  county;  in  1700,  there  were  1,461;  so  there  must  have 
been  about  1,100  in  1770.  From  these  numbers  there  must 
have  been  near  1.000  who  enlisted  and  fought  in  the  war.  Be- 
fore specifying  any  quota,  four  companies  had  been  formed. 
The  first  was  under  the  call  of  August,  1774.  Then  Tames 
Armstrong  and  George  Evans  were  authorized  to  raise  a  com- 
pany each.  There  was  one  or  more  under  TCobert  Salter  that 
joined  Colonel  Caswell  on  the  march  to  Moore's  Creek,  and 
next  are  heard  of  at  Wilmington.  Then  followed  calls  for 
Pitt's  quota  for  the  Continental  Army,  those  calls  being  for 
50,  35,  50  and  150  men,  respectively.  Tt  is  not  doubted  that 
they  were  promptly  furnished.  Then  there  were  400  with 
Governor  Xash  at  Halifax,  in  1781.  All  of  which  shows 
that  Pitt  County  did  its  full  duty  in  those  days  ''that  tried 
men's  souls."  In  17SG.  Governor  Caswell,  in  having  the 
militia  organized,  issued  commissions  for  four  field  officers 
and  thirty-six  for  captains,  lieutenants  and  ensigns  of  twelve 
companies.  At  that  time  there  was  some  dissatisfaction  about 
military  matters  in  the  county,  and  in  deprecating  it  he  said, 
•'and  am  much  concerned  about  the  Pitt  militia,  which  I  al- 
ways considered  as  equal,  at  least,  to  any  in  the  State."  The 
record  of  Pitt  in  ihe  Revolution  is  one  to  be  proud  of. 


SKETCHES    OF    I' ITT    COUNTY.  99 


CHAPTER  XIXKTKKX. 

TOKY  PAKDONS — VOTE  ON  THE  CAPITAL  BILL — WILLIAM 
B LOU, NT-  -FiitsT  CENSUS — WASHINGTON'S  Tocu — IM- 
PKESSIONS  IN  PITT — OLD  PEOPLE — JAMES  ARMSTRONG 
I  )KAD — SECOND  CENSUS — PEACE  AND  PROGRESS — 
SCHOOLS  AND  HOUSES — MAIL  FACILITIES — MODES  01 

(CONVEYANCE—    GOOD  Ol.I)  TlMES. 

Xorlh  Carolina  was  now  a  part  of  that  new  nation  horn  of 
hlood  and  sacrifices.  With  1700  came  an  era  that  promised 
peace  and  prosperity.  The  Assembly  passed  acts  of  pardon 
for  in  any  offenses  committed  during  the  past,  especially  those 
of  the  long  war  for  Independence.  Among  the  beneficiaries  of 
those  acts  were  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Pitt,  Martin 
and  Edgecombe,  but  it  is  to  be  doubted  if  many  were  from 
Pitt;  if  so,  they  were  living  on  the  borders  along  the  Martin 
and  Edgecombe  lines. 

The  bill  for  <  stablishing  the  capital  as  recommended  by  t he- 
convention  passed  the  House  by  a  vote  of  52  to  51.  It  was  a 
tie  and  the  Speaker  voted  for  it.  thus  giving  it  one  majority. 
Shadrach  Allen  and  Samuel  Simpson  were  Pitt's  representa- 
tives in  that  branch,  and  they  both  voted  for  the  bill. 

William  Blonnt  was  in  the  Senate  from  Pitt  in  1TS9,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  was  west  of  the 
mountains,  being  engaged  in  some  affairs  connected  with  the 
Fndians.  Returning  for  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  he 
charged  mileage  from  there.  The  clerk  refused  to  allow  it 
and  the  Assembly  of  this  year  (175*0)  complimented  him  on 
his  action  in  so  doing.  Therefore  "Mr.  Blonnt  only  received 
mileage  from  Pitt. 

This  year  the  first  Xatioual  Census  was  taken.  The  na- 
tion then  had  only  3,029/21  f  population:  Xorth  Carolin;:. 
393.751  ;  Pitt  County,  S,275.  Pitt's  population  is  thus 
ii'iven:  Males  over  10  rears  of  na'e,  1,401  ;  males  under  10. 


100  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

1.507;  females,  2,0]  5;  total  whites,  5,883  ; 'slaves,  2,307;  all 
others,  25;  grand  total,  8,275. 

Having  previously  made  a  tour  of  the  Xew  England  States, 
in  March  1791  President  Washington  started  on  a  Southern 
tour.  He  came  by  way  of  Petersburg,  Virginia,  and  his  first 
stop  in  Xorth  Carolina  was  at  Halifax,  where  he  spent  the 
night. 

His  route  took  him  through  Pitt  and  the  following  is  found 
in  his  diary,  relating  to  that  part  of  his  tour: 

"'TUESDAY,  APRIL   19'ni. 

"At  (5  o'clock  I  left  Tarborongh,  accompanied  by  some  of 
tho  most  respectable  people  of  the  place  for  a  few   miles- - 
dined  at  a  trifling  place  called  Greenville,  25  miles  distant- - 
and  lodged  at  one  Allan's,'-  14  miles  further,  a  very  indiffer- 
ent house  without  stabling  which  for  the  first  time  since  I 
commenced    my   Journey   were   obliged    to   stand   without    a 
cover. 

"Greenville  is  on  Tar  River  and  the  exports  the  same  a^ 
from  Tarborough  with  a  greater  proportion  of  Tar — for  the 
lower  down  the  greater  number  of  Tar  makers  are  there- 
this  article  is  contrary  to  all  ideas  one  would  entertain  on  the 
subject,  rolled  as  Tobacco  by  an  axis  which  goes  through  b:>th 
heads — one  horse  draws  two  barrells  in  this  manner. 

'"'WEDNESDAY,   APRIL   20. 

"Left  Allan's  before  breakfast  and  under  a  misapprehension 
went,  to  a  Colonel  Allan's,  supposing  it  to  be  a  public  house: 
where  we  were1  kindly  and  well  entertained  without  knowing 

*Tlii--  was  Shadrach  Allen,  and  his  place  was  known  as  Crown  Point.  It  was  just 
south  of  Turkey  Cock  Swamp,  and  there  are  no  remains  of  buildings  now  there.  It  was 
also  the  place.'  of  the  first  Masonic  Lodge  in  North  Carolina.  The  Colonel  Allen,  with 
whom  he  got  breakfast,  was  Colonel  John  Allen,  brother  to  Shadrach.  and  lived  near  Pitch 
Kettle  in  Craven  County.  Arriving  at  Col  John  Allen's,  and  thinking  it  a  public  house 
or  inn.  President  Washington  asked  if  he  could  get  breakfast.  Mrs.  Allen  said  she  would 
have  to  see  Col.  Allen.  Finding  that  the  man  who  wanted  breakfast  was  President 
Washington,  a  big  breakfast  was  prepared.  A  pig,  chicken,  turkey  and  other  things  were 
upon  the  table.  President  Washington  ate  only  some  eggs  and  drank  some  rum,  touching 
nothing  else.  Either  here  or  at  Col.  Shade  Allen's,  there  was  a  young  girl  to  whom  Presi- 
dent Washington  became  attracted,  took  her  to  New  Bern  with  him  and  to  the  ball  in  his 
honor  at  the  palace  that  night.  At  New  Bern  he  wa?  entertained  and  slept  in  the  house 
on  Middle  street,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  James  A.  Bryan. 


SKETCI1KS    OF    I'ITT    COUNTY.  101 

it  was  at  his  expense,  until  it  was  too  late  to  rectify  the  mis- 
take. After  breakfasting  and  feeding  our  horses  here,  wo 
proceeded  on  and  crossed  the  River  Neusc  11  miles  further, 
arrived  in  Newbern  to  dinner.  At  this  ferry  which  is  1<> 
miles  from  Newbern,  we  were  met  by  a  small  party  of  Horse ; 
the  district  Judge  (.Mr.  Sitgreaves*)  and  many  of  the  prin- 
cipal Inhabitants  of  Newbern,  who  conducted  us  into  town 
to  exceeding  good  lodgings. 

"It  ought  to  have  been  mentioned  that  another  small  party 
of  Horse  under  one  Simpsonf  met  us  at  Greenville,  and  in 
spite  of  every  endeavor  which  could  comport  with  decent 
civility  to  excuse  myself  from  it,  they  would  attend  me  to 
Xewbern.  Colonel  Allen  did  the  same." 

The  house  in  which  he  is  said  to  have  dined  in  Greenville 
is  still  standing  and  known  as  the  Dr.  Dick  Williams  house, 
now  occupied  by  his  children.  On  the  weatherboarding  near 
the  front  door  can  yet  be  seen  some  marks,  which  are  what 
time  has  left  of  President  Washington's  name,  said  to  have 
been  written  by  him  on  that  occasion.  But  a  very  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Greenville,  who  died  only  a  few  years 
ago,  told  this  writer  that  the  Williams  house  was  not  the 
house  which  he  had  been  told  was  the  house  at  which  Presi- 
dent Washington  dined,  but  that  it  was  a  house  long  since 
removed,  that  stood  about  where  the  southern  end  of  the  ol  1 
Macon  House  now  stands.  This  gentleman  also  stated  that 
Dr.  Robert  Williams,  then  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
in  the  county  and  who  lived  very  near  the  road  by  which 
President  Washington  came  from  Tarboro,  afterwards  said 
he  never  heard  of  the  President's  visit  until  years  after  and 
doubted  the  truth  of  the  statement  that  such  a  visit  was 
made. 

That  Pitt  was  a  good  county  in  which  to  live,  and  that  its 
people  lived  well  and  long,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  170  1 
there  were  then  living  in  the  county,  William  Taylor  11-1 

'John  Sitgreaves,  Judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court. 

t  Samuel  Simpson  was  ordered  to  escort  President  Washington  from  Greenville  to  New 
Bern,  by  Thomas  Blount,  and  this  was  in  all  probability  the  Simpson  alluded  to. 


102  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

years  old;  Lancelot  James  and  John  Banks,  each  over  10' > 
years  old;  and  William  Howard,  108  years  old.  William 
Howard  was  a  native  of  Ocracocke  Island,  but  had  lived  on 
the  banks  of  Tar  River  91  years. 

Some  time  about  1794  or  1795,  James.  Armstrong  died. 
He  had  been  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  had  filled  every 
position  from  private  to  Brigadier  General.  He  had  been 
an  officer  of  the  militia,  and  when  his  country  called  for  men 
to  resist  oppression,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond. 

The  Census  of  JbOO  showed  that  Pitt  County  had  a  popu- 
lation of  9,08"4,  all  told,  being  an  increase  of  809,  or  about 
ten  per  cent  in  ten  years. 

This  was  an  era  of  peace  and  progress.  The  Xational  Gov- 
ernment was  no  longer  an  experiment,  there  were  no  interna- 
tional complications  to  disturb  the  people  and  the  Indian 
wars  had  become  of  no  great  importance.  Internal  affair- 
were  uppermost  and  the  rush  of  people  to  the  new  Xation. 
promised  to  make  a  great  Xation  of  many  people.  Condition- 
then  existing  in  the  State  applied  to  Pitt  County.  It  might 
be  called  a  primitive  age,  an  age  of  simplicity.  At  this  time 
there  was  not  a  public  school  in  the  State.  The  great  mass  of 
the  people  could  neither  read  nor  write,  education  being  the 
accomplishment  of  the  few  and  wealthy.  There  were  few 
private  schools.  The  school  hcuse  was  built  of  logs,  with  a 
dirt  chimney;  a  log  was  sawed  out  at  one  side  for  a  window  . 
the  seats  were  made  of  split  logs,  the  split  side  being  somewhat 
smoothed  and  supported  on  round  legs  driven  in  holes  bored  in 
the  under  side,  and  such  scats  had  no  backs;  a  shelf  built  t'-> 
one  side  of  the  house  answered  for  a  desk  for  writing,  the 
pupil  sitting  on  one  of  the  benches;  the  floor  was  of  rough- 
hewn  timber,  with  many  and  large  holes  that  let  in  the  mid 
in  winter.  The  teacher  was  held  in  little  esteem  and  was 
practically  a  servant  and  nurse  for  the  smaller  children.  The 
leather  was  generally  a  woman,  practically  imported  from 
Xew  Kn<i'laud.  and  a'enerallv  ended  her  career  in  the  sch.->nl 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY.  1 

room  by  marrying  the  son  of  the  house  and  causing  a  row  in 
the  family.  The  teacher's  pay  was  a  pittance. 

There  was  little  letter  writing.  Postage  was  not  less  than 
twenty-five  cents  on  each  letter,  arid  it  took  weeks  and  some- 
times months  to  get  a  reply  where  now  it  is  only  a  question  of 
a  day  or  two.  Comforts  were  few  and  simple.  There  were  no 
stoves,  no  coal,  no  gas,  no  matches.  The  fire  in  ihe  great  tire- 
place,  pine  torches  and  tallow  caudles  were  the  producers  of 
heat  and  light  on  all  occasions. 

There  were  few  vehicles  of  any  kind;  the  roads  were  very 
bad  and  often  impassable.  Everybody  rode  horseback,  and 
sometimes  a  family  of  four  were  mounted  on  one  horse.  Al- 
most every  woman  could  spin,  weave,  knit,  sow,  cut  and  make 
all  the  wearing  apparel  for  the  household.  There  was  little 
money  in  circulation.  Hogs,  cattle  and  turkeys  were  driven 
to  the  markets  of  Virginia.  Tobacco  was  rolled  to  market  in 
hogsheads,  an  axle  being  put  through  the  hogshead  and  shafts 
being  attached. 

Courts  were  jolly  times.  Drinking,  fighting,  gambling  and 
their  attendant  vices,  were  its  prominent  features.  Drunken- 
ness was  a  common  vice  from  which  the  preachers  Avere  not 
always  exempt.  Lotteries  for  raising  money  for  churches, 
schools  and  the  disposal  of  town  lots,  were  licensed  by  law. 
The  whole  population  practically  lived  in  the  country  and 
knew  nothing  of  the  attractions  of  towns  and  cities.  Swift 
justice  was  often  visited  upon  the  criminal.  The  life  of  those 
times  meant  health  and  strength.  It  was  a  lot  of  hardy, 
honest  men  and  women,  who  seemed  to  believe  in  hanging  as 
all  or  most  punishment  for  the  present,  a  brimstone  hell  for 
future  punishment  and  calomel  for  all  the  ills  of  the  present 
life. 


101  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY. 


THIRD  CENSUS — YANKEE  HALL — SECOND  WAR  WITH  ENG- 
LAND— Two  PITT  COMPANIES  AT  BEACON  ISLAND — THEIR 
PAY-KOLL — RETREAT  AND  AMUSING  INCIDENT — FOURTH 
CENSUS — OCCUPATIONS — BRIDGE  AT  GREENVILLE — 
GREENVILLE  ACADEMIES — FIFTH  CENSUS — JOHN  JOYNER. 

The  Census  of  1810  showed  little  increase  of  Pitt's  popula- 
tion from  1800,  it  being  only  85,  the  total  being  9,160. 

About  this  time  some  New  England  tradesmen  settled  on 
Tar  River  at  Yankee  Hall,  and  it  soon  became  a  center  of 
business  for  much  of  the  country  to  the  north  thereof. 

There  is  little  record  of  the  men  of  Pitt  in  the  second  war 
with  England.  North  Carolina  being  far  removed  from  the 
main  seats  of  the  war,  perhaps  not  so  many  of  her  men  took 
part,  and  of  those  who  did,  their  history  is  lost  in  that  of 
others.  North  Carolina  was  invaded  in  1813  and  in  response 
to  Governor  Hawkins'  call  for  troops,  two  companies  from 
Pitt,  about  125  men  and  officers,  were  enlisted. 

Of  one  company,  George  Eason  was  Captain  ;  Sunnier  Ad- 
ams, Lieutenant;  Samuel  Albritton,  Ensign;  John  Allen, 
Peter  Adams,  Josiah  Daniel,  Moses  Hatton,  Sergeants; 
Thomas  Adams.  Levin  Hall,  Samuel  Johnston,  George  Knrtx, 
Corporals.  Of  the  second,  Samuel  Vines  was  Captain  ;  Isaac 
Downs,  Lieutenant;  William  Rountree,  Knsign ;  Benjamin 
Bell,  Elias  Carr,  Willie  Clements,  Sergeants;  Benjamin 
Johnston,  Levy  Pearscen,  Nathaniel  Petlit,  Moses  Turnage, 
Corporals. 

The  field  officers  were,  Hardy  Smith,  Brigadier  General ; 
Howell  Cobb,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Commander;  William 
Pngh,  Second  Major. 

The  privates  were,  of  Captain  Eason's  Company:  Ambrose 
Arnold,  Watson  W.  Anderson,  Levin  Adams,  William  W.  An- 
drews, John  Baldwin,  Miles  Britfon,  Noah  Duck,  William 
Bryan.  Noah  Bcddard,  ITenry  Barnhill,  Jonathan  Briley, 


SKETCHES 


JMTT    COl'NTY. 


105 


William  Brooks,  Heading  Hell,  Stephen  Carcney,  Willie  Bell, 
William  Carnmel,  Charles  Crisp,  William  Crawford,  William 
Downs,  Jesse  Dudley,  Frederick  Dinkins,  William  Klk-. 
Henry  Fulford,  Stej)hen  Fulford,  Keuben  Flake,  William 
Galloway,  William  llighsmith,  Thomas  Holliday,  Matthew 
James,  George  Killebrew,  William  Little,  Benjamin  Leirgett, 
Josiah  IVIills,  William  "Manninir.  Allen  .Moore,  Asia  ]\[oore, 


OLD  BKICKELL  CANNON 
One  of  the  cannons  with  which  Joseph    Briekell    armed    his   trading  v< 


While  bciiiK  used  to  celebrate  the  election   of  John   Spiers  to   the  legislature  in   1X36,    a 
premature  discharge  killed  two  negro  's  and   injured  several  other  people. 

William  JMoure,  Xoah  ^Lagowns,  William  Mitchel,  Samuel 
Nobles,  Alfred  Xelson,  William  J.  Parkston,  .James  Tlobert- 
son,  Keuben  Ivollins,  Kiehard  Eaton  Rivers,  Henry  Smith. 
Luther  Spnin,  Benjamin  Shivers,  John  Tison,  Jacob  Turner, 
Isaac  Turner,  William  Teal,  Willoughby  Whitehurst,  Gari- 
son  Williams,  Solomon  Whichai-d,  Calven  Ilerrington. 


100  SKKTCHKS    <>!•     PITT     COUNTY. 

The  privates  of  Captain  Vines'  Company  were:  Richard 
Albritton,  William  Albritton,  Samuel  Allen,  Robert  Barr. 
Abednego  Briley,  Xathan  Brady,  Benjamin  Briley,  Aaron 
Cox,  William  Edwards,  Thomas  Flanagan.  John  Fowler. 
Jordan  Fulford,  An  cos  Garriss.  David  ITattoway.  Harry 
Hadison,  Joseph  English,  Isaac  Joiner.  William  Lang,  John 
Little.  Dread  Little.  William  Moore,  Thomas  Mills.  John 
Move,  Abraham  Mills,  Simpson  Meeks,  Benjamin  Xobles. 
James  Pearce.  Turr.er  Pollard,  John  Pope,  William  Peebles, 
Jr.,  Isaac  Parker,  Henry  Rodgers,  Richard  Shingleton,  Ben- 
jamin Smith.  Jethro  Sermon,  Arden  Tucker,  Ilarman  Wal- 
ton. Benjamin  Ward,  Burrel  White,  John  AVilson. 

These  two  companies  were  a  part  of  the  garrison  of  Beacon 
Island,  in  Pamlico  Sound,  at  Ocracoke  Inlet.  It  was  for  the 
defense  of  the  inlet  and  Portsmouth;  but  when  the  British 
fleet  appeared,  the  entire  garrison  abandoned  its  post  and 
fled  in  boats  for  the  mainland,  arriving  there  safely.  The 
British  were  too  many  for  them  and  flight  was  their  only 
safety.  After  plundering  Portsmouth,  taking  all  the  cattle, 
hogs  and  provisions  to  be  found,  the  British  sailed  away. 
There  was  another  company  at  Beacon  Island,  under  Cap- 
tain Sadler.  It  seems  to  have  been  there  later  and  to  have 
garrisoned  the  Island  after  the  others  left.  It  was  also  from 
Pitt  County. 

It  seems  these  companies  were  not  prepared  for  defense, 
but  were  doing  a  picket  service.  On  each  projecting  head- 
land on  to  Washington,  were  signal  corps,  with  a  barrel  of 
rosin,  bottle  of  spirits  of  turpentine,  ball  of  oakum  and  a 
flint  and  steel  for  striking  tire.  On  the  approach  of  the  Brit- 
ish fleet,  these  signal  corps  were  to  successively  light  their  sig- 
nals. And  it  is  said  that  within  two  hours  after  the  appear- 
ance of  the  fleet,  the  signal  had  readied  Washington  and  the 
long  roll  was  1,(  aten  for  assembling  the  militia.  The  militia 
assembled  and  was  led  by  Captain  Mallison  to  an  old  en- 
trenchment a  little  ea-t  of  the  town,  ('allimr  to  his  men  t>> 


SKKTC1IKS    OF     PITT    rof.NTY.  H)7 

follow  and  be  ready  to  defend  their  country,  Captain   Malli 
son  leaped  into  the  entrenchments.      lie  landed  on  the  head 
of  a  long-horned  cow  and,  grabbing  a  horn  with  each  hand,  he 
thought  the   British  had  him   and  that  he  was  between  two 
baymets;  so  he  hastened  to  yell,  "I  surrender." 

The  use  of  the  signals  were  to  be  by  night,  the  fire. -and  by 
day,  the  smoke.  (The  cow  incident  is  not  vouched  for,  but 
camo  of  good  authority.) 

The  Greenville  Academy  was  incorporated  in  1811. 

Yankee  Hall  must  have  become  an  important  point  of 
business  on  the  river  and  also  to  have  done  a  good  shipping 
business.  In  181G  two  sea-going  ships  were  built  there. 

The  census  of  1S20  showed  good  growth  in  population  for 
Pitt.  The  population  was  10,001.  as  follows: 

Whites,  under  16  years  of  age — males,  1.3G8;  females, 
1,320. 

Whites,  between  1(1  and  45;  males,  1,143;  females,  1,103. 

Whites,  over  45,  males,  353  ;  females,  384. 

Total  whites,  males,  2,8G4;  females.  2.807. 

Total,  both  sexes,  5,731. 

Slaves — males,  2,213;  females,  2,028. 

Free  negroes — males,  IS;  females,  11. 

Total,  29. 

Summary — Whites,  5,731 . 
Slaves,  4,241. 
Free  negroes,  29. 
Total,  10.001. 

The  county  had  no  incorporated  town  and  the  population 
of  Greenville  was  not  given. 

Those  given  as  engaged  in  the  various  occupations  were: 
Agriculture,  3,205;  Commerce,  25;  Manufacturers,  Gl  :  to- 
tal, 3.291. 

Sometime  in  the  twenties,  very  probably  the  latter,  a  bridge 
was  built  over  Tar  Ixiver  at  Greenville,  and  the  old  ferry, 
so  long  in  use.  discontinued.  In  1828  land  was  bought  from 


108  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

John  Cherry,  about  five  miles  southeast  of  Greenville,  and  a 
poor-house  or  County  Home  established. 

The  Greenville  Female  Academy  was  chartered  in  1830. 
The  incorporates  were  Gen.  W.  Clark,  Archibald  Parker, 
John  C.  Gorham,  Richard  Evans,  and  Absalom  Saunders. 

The  Census  of  1830  showed  a  good  increase  in  Pitt's  popu- 
lation, it  being  12,05)3,  an  increase  of  2,092  over  that  of  ten 
years  before. 

From  the  schools  chartered,  a  spirit  of  education  must  have 
come  over  the  people  about  this  time,  and  several  academies 
were  chartered.  Clemmons's  Academy  was  chartered  in  1831, 
with  Willie  Gurganus,  Thomas  E.  Chance,  Edmund  Andrews 
and  William  Clemmons,  Trustees.  Contentnea  Academy 
was  incorporated  the  same  year  with  Moses  Turnage,  Lewis 
Turnage,  Abram  Baker,  Elbert  Moye,  William  D.  Move  and 
Alfred  Moye,  Trustees.  Jordan  Plain  Academy  was  incor- 
porated the  next  year  with  Hugh  Telfair,  Thomas  Jordan, 
Valentine  Jordan,  Benjamin  F.  Eborn,  James  Little  an<l 
Churchill  Perkins,  Trustees.  While  this  looks  like  educa- 
tional progress,  yet  it  seems  that  the  people  were  not  yet  ready 
for  or  in  favor  of  general  education,  for  it  is  said  that  John 
Joyner,  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  county  and  several 
times  a  member  of  the  legislature,  was  "turned  out  of"  his 
church  for  sending  one  of  his  boys,  Xoah,  off  to  college. 

These  schools  srem  to  have  passed  out  of  the  memory  ot 
those  living.  Clemmons's  was  in  Carolina,  near  the  .Martin 
line.  Contentnea  was  near  the  Move  Cross  Roads,  being  on 
the  road  to  Farmville,  a  little  north  of  A.  P.  Turnage's  pres- 
ent home,  but  not  so  far  as  the  late  Moye  school  house.  Jor- 
dan Plains  was  about  two  miles  north  of  Pactolus,  on  the 
Williamston  road. 


SKKTCMES    OK    JMTT    COUNTY. 


C1IA  PTER  TWEXT  Y-OX  K. 


STEAM  HOATS — CONSTITTTIOXAL  CONVENTION  OK  1835  — 
DELEGATES — IMI-OKTANT  VOTKS — BAPTIST  STATE  CON- 
VENTION— GKEENVILLK  GA/.ETTK — PKESIDENTIAL  ELKC- 
TIOX — Loss  IN  POPULATION— FLAT  BOATS — I) it.  WIL- 
LIAMS DEAD — HAKIMS  AND  VEI. LOWLY  Di  KL — HAKIMS 
KILLED — ACADEMY  INCORPORATED. 

The  first  steamboats  appeared  on  Tar  River  in  the  early 
thirties,  but  as  business  ventures  were  failures. 

The  year  1830  was  the  year  of  the  organization  of  the 
North  Carolina  Baptist  State  Convention.  Tt  took  place  in 
Greenville,  a  few  prominent  members  of  that  church  meet- 
ing in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Ricks  House  and  organix- 
ing  with  Patrick  Duwd,  President,  and  Samuel  Wait,  ( 'orres- 
pondiug  Secretary. 

To  the  ('(institutional  Convention  of  I>o5  Pitt  sent  Dr. 
Robert  Williams  and  John  Joyner.  They  were  both  go»d 
representatives,  but  little  given  to  speech-making.  Both 
voted  for  biennial  sessions  of  the  legislature;  for  giving 
Edenton,  Xew  Bern,  Wilmington  and  Faycttevillc,  Borough 
representation  in  the  legislature;  and  against  the  election  of 
the  governor  by  the  popular  vote  of  the  people,  and  giving 
the  free  negroes  the  right  to  vote.  On  the  question  of  sub~ii- 
tuting  the  word  "Christian''  for  the  word  "'Protestant"  in 
the  thirty-second  Article  of  the  Constitution.  Williams  voted 
for  and  Joyner  against.  On  the  question  of  a  property 
qualification  for  negroes  for  voting,  Williams  voted  against  it 
and  Joyner  for  it.  The  Constitution  proved  to  bo  very  un- 
popular with  the  East  and  not  one  Eastern  county  voted  for 
its  ratification.  Pitt  voted  thirty-two  for.  to  seven  hundred 
and  ten  against  it.  This  was  about  the  way  the  other  Eastern 
counties  voted,  but  the  Western  counties  voted  as  solidly  for 
it  and  it  was  ratified  by  a  majority  of  5.105. 


110  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

Before  this  Constitution  was  adopted,  Catholics  "-ere  for- 
bidden to  hold  office,  though  public  sentiment  had  never  al- 
lowed its  enforcement.  William  Gaston,  a  Catholic,  was  a 
member  of  this  Convention  and  had  held  many  offices  and 
only  the  year  before  had  been  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court.  If  the  law  had  been  strictly  enforced  he  would 
have  been  barred. 

About,  this  time,  too,  was  published  the  first  newspaper 
ever  published  in  Greenville  or  the  county.  It  was  the 
Greenville  Gazette,  published  by  John  Brown,  known  as 
"Printer  Brown."  It  was  a  small  paper  and  did  not  long 
exist.  The  town  was  too  small  to  support  even  a  small 
paper. 

In  the  Presidential  election  in  1840,  William  Henry  Har- 
rison, Whig1,  received  027  votes  and  Martin  Van  Buren,  Loco 
Foeo,  301  in  Pitt. 

The  county  seems  to  have  gone  backwards  between  1830 
and  1840  in  some  way,  for  the  Census  of  the  latter  year 
showed  a  population  of  only  11,806,  a  loss  of  287  in  ten 
years. 

The  year  1812  is  remembered  as  the  year  of  a  great  flood. 
Some  old  people  claim  it  the  largest  flood  an-d  rise  in  the  river 
ever  known. 

ft  seems   there  was  not  enougn  business  on  the  river  in 
ill- isc  days  to  make  steamboats  profitable,  and  they  gave  way 
to  float  boats.     Though  they  were  slow  they  did  a  profitable 
business  and  were  long  on  the  river,  even   after  steamboat 
i  ug  began. 

October  first,  1847,  II.  F.  Harris,  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture, fell  in  a  duel  with  E.  C.  Yellowly.  Both  were  young 
lawyers  of  the  Greenville  bar.  They  were  close  friends, 
rivals  at  the  bar  and  also  for  the  graces  of  an  only  daughter 
of  a  wealthy  planter.  A  case  in  court  caused  the  first  diffi- 
culty. Harris  had  the  first  speech  to  the  jury  ami  severely 
criticised  the  management,  of  the  case  by  Yellowly.  In  his 
n-ply,  Yellowly  more  severely  criticised  Harris.  After  court. 


SKKTCIIKS    OF    I1  ITT    (or.N'IV.  Ill 

Harris  made  an  attack  on  Yd  lowly,  Friend-  prevented 
anything  serious  then.  Harris  challenged  Yellowly  to  meet 
him  on  the  field  of  honor,  which  challenge  \Vas  acepted.  How- 
ever. l»i  th  were  arrested  and  put  under  heavy  bonds  to  keep 
rhe  peace  one  year.  On  the  day  the  bond  was  out  Ilarri-  re- 
newed the  challenge,  which  was  again  accepted. 

On  October  first,  1M7,  they  met  on  the  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia  State  line,  on  the  Dismal  Swamp  ('anal,  about  four 
miles  from  the  "Half-way  House/'  Hefore  lighting,  ^  el- 
lowly  sent  his  second  to  see  if  the  duel  could  then  be  stopped. 
Harris  was  obstinate  and  demanded  that  the  duel  proceed. 
In  the  first  shot,  Harris's  shot  went  wild,  and  Ydlowly  fired 
up  into  the  air.  Again  Yellowly  attempted  a  reconciliation, 
but  Harris  said  he  went  there  for  blood  and  would  have  it  be- 
fore he  left.  In  the  second  shot  Harris's  shot  again  went 
wild.  This  time  Yellowly's  shot  went  true  and  Harris  fell. 
pierced  by  the  ball,  nearly  in  the  center  of  his  forehead,  a 
little  over  the  right  eye.  Seeing  Harris  fall,  Yellowly  said  to 
his  second,  ''(Jo  to  him  for  God's  sake,  for  T  don't  want  to  kill 
him."  Harris  was  dead  when  the  second  reached  him.  Yel- 
lowly and  his  party  left  at  once,  but  was  arrested  in  Yirginia, 
though  the  magistrate  did  not  hold  him.'" 

*XoxK. — T.  K.  Wilkins,  an  eye-witness  to  part  of  the  duel,  trave  thi- 
\vriter  the  following  account  of  the  atTair.  He  -aid:  "I  wa-  a  small 
hoy  on  a  visit  to  niy  uncle,  William  Wallace.  who  lived  at  Culpepper 
Locks,  on  the  Dismal  Swamp  Canal,  in  Virginia.  I  was  in  possession  of 
my  first  pun  and  with  a  crowd  of  boys,  some  larger,  my  cou-in.  W.  T. 
Wallace,  son  of  my  uncle,  being  in  the  crowd.  Returnin'j  home.  \\<>  came 
up  the  ea<t  hank  of  the  canal  and  ahead  of  u-  -aw  two  rarri:i'_re-  and 
several  men,  walking  ahout  mixed  up.  A  man  came  ninniii-j  meeting 
us,  stopped  us  and  told  us  to  remain  where  we  weie.  We  were  then 
ahout  one  hundred  yards  from  the  men  and  carriage-.  Souii  there  were 
pistol  shots  and  again  the  men  were  busy  getting  about.  Soon  there 
were  other  pistol  shots  and  again  the  men  ^tirred  about.  A  tall,  -mall 
man  and  two  or  three  others  got  into  the  carriage  and  drove  oil'.  The 
boys  were  much  excited,  ami  passing  on  up  the  canal  bank  by  where 
the  shooting  had  taken  place,  they  saw  a  man  lying  next  the  wood-  on 
the  bank,  with  a  red  handkerchief  over  his  face.  The  bov-  went  on  to 


112  SKKTCIIKS     OF     PITT     COUNTY. 

Both  I  [arris  and  Yellowly  were  brave,  fearless  men.  Har- 
ris was  an  expert  with  the  pistol.  Both  had  practiced  for 
the  occasion,  though  Yellowly  did  not  want  to  fight.  Dr.  W. 
J.  Blow  was  Yellowly's  second,  and  also  surgeon  to  both. 

The  steamboat  "^Amidas"  was  built  and  placed  on  Tar 
River  in  1840  by  -John  Meyers  and  Sons,  of  Washington, 
and  became  a  paying  enterprise. 

The  Midway  Male  and  Female  Academy  was  incorporated 
this  year,  with  Churchill  Perkins,  Henry  I.  Toole,  William 
Grimes,  Godfrey  Langley,  Benjamin  Daniel,  Valentine  S. 
Jordan  and  David  Langley,  as  trustees.  This  school  was  at 
or  near  Pactolns. 

William  Wallace's  and  told  that  a  man  had  been  killed  on  the  canal 
bank  and  gave  particulars.  William  Wallace  was  a  magistrate.  A  war- 
rant was  issued  and  the  party  in  the  carriage  containing  the  tall,  small 
man  were  arrested  at  Deep  Creek  and  hud  a  hearing  hefore  three  magis- 
trates. After  the  hearing  all  the  parties  signed  the  paper  and  were 
released  and  left.  The  trial  was  held  in  the  little  inn  at  Deep  Creek, 
kept  by  Major  Sam  Foreman.  The  body  of  the  dead  man  was  taken  to 
Deep  Creek  and  a  colfin  <rot  from  a  wheelwright  who  kept  them." 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  113 


CIIAI'TKIt  TWENTY-TWO. 


PLANK  ROAD — SEVENTH  CENSUS — PLANK  ROAD  STOCK- 
HOLDERS ORGANIZED — COLD  SPRIXG — COURT-HOUSE 
BURNED — GREAT  Loss — COMMON  SCHOOLS  AND  PROGRESS 
— COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT — APPORTIONMENT — JOUR- 
NAL OF  EDUCATION — VERY  OLD  MAN. 

The  legislature  of  1S50  chartered  the  Greenville  and  Ra- 
leigh plank  road.  A  provision  in  the  charter  provided  that 
any  white  person  who  should  travel  on  the  road  after  built, 
should  pay  a  fine  of  five  dollars,  unless  the  proper  tolls  had 
been  paid.  Jf  a  slave  should  be  the  offender,  the  penalty  was 
not  more  than  twenty  lashes. 

The  census  of  this  year  gave  Pitt  County  13, 3!) 7  popula- 
tion, divided  as  follows:  Whites,  0,677;  slaves,  G,G33 ;  free 
negroes,  87.  The  vote  for  Governor  was,  David  S.  Reid, 
Democrat,  583;  Charles  Manly,  Whig,  591. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1851,  the  stockholders  of  the 
Greenville  and  Raleigh  plank  road,  met  in  Greenville  and  or- 
ganized. Benjamin  F.  Hanks,  of  Washington,  was  made 
chairman,  and  John  A.  Selby,  of  Greenville,  secretary.  John 
Meyers,  E.  J.  Warren,  Gould  IToyt  and  F.  B.  Satterthwaite 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  see  how  much  stock  was  rep- 
resented. B.  L.  Meyers,  F.  J.  Warren,  F.  B.  Satterthwaite 
and  W.  J.  Blow  were  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  set  of 
by-laws.  The  following  shares  were  reported  represented: 
Raleigh.  30  shares;  Wilson,  04- ;  Washington,  1,010;  Green- 
ville, 1,329;  total,  2,359.  Alfred  Move  was  elected  presi- 
dent by  a  vote  of  1.391  to  887  for  II.  L.  Meyers.  Xine  di- 
rectors were  elected.  They  were  Joseph  Potts,  Benjamin  F. 
Hanks,  B.  F.  Havens,  R.  L.  Meyers,  of  Beaufort ;  Thomas 
Hanrahan,  William  Bernard,  Sr.,  F.  B.  Sattherthwaite,  of 
Pitt;  John  W.  Farmer,  of  Edgecombc :  Thomas  D.  Hogg,  of 
Wake. 
8 


114  SKETCHES  OP  PITT  COUNTY. 

The  plank  road  was  a  great  enterprise  and  did  much  for 
the  upbuilding  of  the  county.  The  arrival  and  departure  of 
the  old  stage  coaches  were  almost  as  great  events  as  that  of 
daily  trains  now.  Crowds  were  always  waiting  for  it.  Along 
the  route  it  was  the  same.  Stores  were  built  along  the  road, 
and  the  village  of  Marlboro  was  one  of  its  results.  It  be- 
came a  place  of  much  importance  and  soon  boasted  a  male 
and  female  academy  that  was  the  pride  of  that  section.  The 
steamer  "Morehead7'  was  built  and  placed  on  the  river  to  run 
in  connection  wTith  the  coaches. 

The  spring  of  1856  was  a  noted  cold  one.     Snow  began 

-L  O  O 

falling  Sunday  night,  April  26th,  and  continued  to  Tuesday 
night,  when  there  was  a  general  freeze.  The  oldest  inhabi- 
tant remembered  nothing  of  the  kind  before.  All  the  fruit 
and  vegetation  were  completely  killed,  as  were  all  growing 
crops.  Whole  fields  of  wheat,  nearing  the  heading  state, 
were  killed  and  presented  a  curious  sight. 

Pitt  County  sustained  an  irreparable  loss  in  1858  by  the 
burning  of  the  court-house.  It  was  a  complete  loss,  with 
many  of  the  records.  On  the  fly-leaf  of  the  appearance 
docket,  which  was  saved,  is  the  following  memorandum  of 
the  event :  ''On  Friday  morning,  about  4  o'clock  on  the  7th 
February,  1858,  the  court-house  in  Greenville,  Pitt  County, 
was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  was  entirely  consumed,  with 
all  the  records,  except  the  books  in  the  office  of  the  register, 
the  trial  and  appearance  dockets  of  the  Superior  Court,  and 
the  trial  docket  from  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  county 
court." 

The  court-house  is  supposed  to  have  been  burned  by  a  man 
from  Tennessee,  to  destroy  a  will.  He  had  made  a  copy  of 
the  will  and  changed  some  words.  Finding  this,  the  clerk 
refused  to  certify  it  a  true  copy.  This  Tennesseean  was  in- 
terested in  some  property  left  by  the  will  and  it  was  not  as  he 
wanted  it.  Circumstantial  evidence  was  so  strong  that  the 
grand  jury  found  a  true  bill  against  him  for  the  burning,  but 
he  was  never  brought  to  trial  for  it. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


115 


A  portion  of  the  first  court-house  ever  built  in  the  county  is 
yet  standing  and  is  used  as  a  tenant  house.  It  is  about  three 
miles  east  of  Greenville,  on  the  Washington  road.  It  wa.« 
built  on  the  lands  of  John  Ilardee,  which  once  had  prospects 
of  being  in  a  town.  But  the  present  site  of  Greenville  was 
more  attractive  and  in  1771  Martin  borough  was  established 
and  in  a  few  years  a  court-house  was  built.  It  stood  on  the 
lot  in  front  of  the  present  court-house,  a  little  north  of  the 


THE  \VHICHARD  SCHOOL  HOUSE,  GREENVILLE. 

This  was  a  poineer  school,  long  conducted  as  a  pay  school,  !>y  Mrs  Violet  Whichard. 

Later  was  used  as  printing  office  by  her  sons.     Now  moved  and  remodeled 

for  dining  room  and  kitchen. 

site  of  the  old  market-house  of  a  few  years  ago.     There  is  no 

t/  O 

record  of  what  became  of  that  court-house.  hi  1789  William 
Blount  got  a  bill  through  the  legislature  for  a  new  one  and 
the  court-house  that  stood  in  and  across  Evans  street  just 
above  Third,  and  which  was  burned  in  1858,  is  supposed  to 
be  the  one  built  under  Blount' s  bill. 

After  years  of  effort  a  common  school  system  was  now 
partly  in  force  in  the  State.  Though  Archibald  D.  Murphey 
threw  sparks  of  life  into  the  cause  of  common  education  in 


116  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

1816-17,  no  lasting  results  were  bad.  But  the  act  creating 
the  "Literary  Fund"  in  1825  was  a' revival  of  interest  that  by 
1840  bad  over  $100,000  in  the  treasury  for  school  purposes. 
A  new  life  was  now  put  into  the  school  matters,  but  strange 
to  say  the  independent  and  indifferent  action  of  many  coun- 
ties required  more  legislation  to  force  the  matter  upon  the 
people.  In  1852,  Calvin  H.  Wiley  was  elected  the  first  State 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction.  lie  entered  upon  the 
work  with  a  zeal  and  determination,  that  in  a  few  short 
years  found  the  schools  on  a  surer  foundation  and  the  system 
somewhat  on  the  order  of  to-day.  The  Literary  Fund  was 
divided  among  the  counties,  and  where  other  taxes  were  added 
a  reasonable  school  term  was  the  result.  Pitt's  share  of  that 
fund  as  early  as  1856  was  $1,289.40. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  County  Superintendents  in  1858,  Alfred 
Move  was  elected  chairman.  The  other  Superintendents  were 
John  S.  Daniel  and  Willis  Whichard.  Their  duties  were 
the  same  as  those  of  our  present  Board  of  Education.  The 
chairman  had  to  give  bond  in  the  sum  of  $6,000  for  the  faith- 
ful performance  of  his  duties.  E.  C.  Yellowly,  James  Mur- 
ray and  Alfred  Move  were  elected  examiners  of  teachers  and 
allowed  five  dollars  per  year  each.  This  meeting  was  held 
in  April.  In  July  they  made  an.  apportionment  of  50  cents, 
"surplus,"  to  be  divided  among  the  white  children  of  each 
district.  There  were  thirty-eight  districts  in  the  county. 
The  school  committees  were  elected  by  the  popular  vote  of  the 
districts  and  when  no  election  was  held  the  Superintendents 
appointed  them.  The  next  year  the  apportionment  was  55 
cents.  Under  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  this  year,  the  Su- 
perintendents subscribed,  out  of  the  school  funds,  for  the 
North  Carolina  Journal  of  Education,  published  by  the  State 
Educational  Society,  for  each  school  district  in  the  county. 

In  I860  there  died  in  Pitt  County,  where  he  had  spent 
most  of  his  life,  Charles  Harris,  aged  122  years.  ITe  was 
born  in  England  in  17-38  and  came  to  America  when  twenty- 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  117 

two  years  of  age.  lie  was  a  veteran  of  tlireo  wars:  the 
Revolution,  the  second  war  with  England  and  some  Indian 
wars.  He  married  Loany  McLawhon  and  they  had  nine  chil- 
dren, none  dying  younger  than  eighty-six  years.  At  the  age 
of  107,  in  1815,  he  joined  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  and 
was  baptized  in  Swift  Creek. 


118  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 


CHAPTEE  TWENTY-THEEE. 


MILITARY  SPIRIT — GOOD  OLD  MUSTER  DAYS — EIGHTH  CEN- 
SUS— ELECTIONS — FORT  SUMTER — PRESIDENT  CALLS 
FOR  VOLUNTEERS — GOVERNOR  ELLIS  CALLS  FOR  VOLUN- 
TEERS FOR  STATE'S  DEFENSE — SECESSION  CONVENTION — 
PITT'S  MEMBERS — G.  B.  SINGELTARY  EAISES  FIRST  COM- 
PANY— TAR  EIVER  BOYS — MARLBORO  GUARDS — DISBURS- 
ING AND  SAFETY  COMMITTEE — WAR  FUNDS — THIRD  EEGI- 

MENT. 

The  questions  of  slavery  and  States  Eights  had  agitated 
the  country  almost  from  its  very  beginning.  The  agitation 
had  grown  with  time,  and  now  at  the  close  of  1859,  and  the 
beginning  of  the  next  year,  when  a  President  was  to  be 
elected,  much  excitement  was  all  over  the  land.  The  war 
with  Mexico  had  not  been  very  popular  in  the  State,  and  Pitt 
did  not  furnish  many  of  the  men  who  followed  Scott  and  Tay- 
lor to  their  great  victories.  However  the  other  questions 
had  served  to  keep  alive  the  military  spirit,  and  as  many  were 
predicting  war  between  the  North  and  the  South,  the  military 
spirit  took  on  new  life. 

The  general  musters  were  big  days.  In  years  before,  per- 
haps led  by  some  old  Mexican  veterans,  to  the  music  of  the 
fife  and  drum— 

"The  jay  bird,  he  died  with  the  whooping-cough, 

The  bullfrog,  he  died  with  the  colic; 
Up  jumped  the  toad,  with  his  tail  cut  off — 
And  that  was  an  end  of  their  frolic," 

they  had  lived  in  the  past  and  its  glories.  But  now  stormier 
times  were  in  prospect  and  though  hard  cider  and  beer  and 
sometimes  things  much  stronger,  and  the  usual  mutual  fist 
fights,  and  mellowness  all  around,  on  such  day?,  the  thought 
of  preparation  for  what  might  come  was  more  often  than 
the  thought  of  what  had  been.  But  still  there  were  good  feel- 
ing and  joy.  and  spirits  enlivened  by  the  cider  gourd,  and  it 


SKKTCIIES    OK    PITT    COUNTY.  119 

was  tramp,  tramp,  as  they  kept  step  to  the  music  of  the  old 
veterans'  fife  and  drum  playing 

"As  I  went  down  the  new-cut  road, 
There  I  met  a  terrapin  and  a  toad ; 
The  toad,  he  pat,  the  frog,  he  sing, 
And  the  terrapin  cut  the  piggin  wing." 

Those  were  good  old  times — times  of  peace,  pleasure  and 
plenty.  But  others  were  coming.  The  song  of  "Dixie"  was 
to  banish  that  of  '"The  Star  Spangled  Banner."  The  be- 
ginning of  1800  was  a  sign  of  the  times. 

Pitt  County  now  had  a  population  of  1C, 440,  as  follows: 
Whites,  7,840;  free  negroes,  127;  slaves,  8,473.  Of  the 
white  population,  there  were  only  1C  foreign  born.  Green- 
ville, its  only  town,  had  a  population  of  828. 

The  people  were  taking  interest  in  all  affairs  and  the  elec- 
tion campaign  was  a  warm  one.  The  election  was  close.  Eor 
Governor,  John  W.  Ellis,  Democrat,  771;  John  Pool,  Whig, 
778.  In  the  Presidential  election,  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
elected  over  all  his  competitors,  but  getting  very,  very  few 
votes  in  North  Carolina  and  not  enough  to  count  in  Pitt 
County.  Talk  of  dissolution  of  the  Union  was  begun.  In 
Pitt,  there  were  strong  Union  and  strong  Secession  men. 
Discussions  were  warm  and  1861  saw  its  people  divided 
among  themselves.  The  legislature  which  met  in  December, 
I860,  recommended  that  a  volunteer  force  should  at  once  bo 
enrolled  and  armed  for  defense.  General  Beauregard  opened 
fire  on  Fort  Sumter,  April  12th,  1861,  and  on  the  14th,  it 
was  evacuated.  This  meant  war,  and  President  Lincoln  im- 
mediately called  for  75,000  volunteers.  Governor  Ellis 
refused  the  demand  for  1,500  from  Xorth  Carolina  and  called 
the  legislature  in  extra  session.  lie  also  said  war  was  upon 
us  and  called  for  20,000  volunteers  for  the  State's  defense. 
The  legislature  met  May  1st  and  called  a  convention,  and 
that  convention,  on  May  20th,  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Seces- 
sion. Pitt  sent  to  that  convention,  now  known  as  the  "Seees- 


120  'SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

sion  Convention,"  F.  B.  Satterthwaite  and  Bryan  Grimes. 
In  the  election  for  the  call  of  the  convention,  Pitt  County 
voted  986  ''for  convention"  to  177  votes  "against  convention." 
It  was  a  hot  campaign  and  Satterthwaite  and  Grimes,  candi- 
dates without  opposition,  and  neighbors  and  friends,  often 
had  hot  words,  as  Grimes  charged  Satterthwaite  with  being  a 
"Union"  man  and  opposed  to  secession. 

But  the  men  of  Pitt  County  had  not  been  idle.  Earlier  in 
the  year  enlistments  had  been  made.  The  first  company  was 
raised  by  George  B.  Singeltary,  in  March.  He  was  Captain 
and  his  brother,  R.  W.  Singeltary,  First  Lieutenant.  It  had 
140  men.  The  next  was  the  Tar  Eiver  Boys,  G.  W.  John- 
son, Captain  and  R.  Greene,  First  Lieutenant,  with  100  men. 
In  April  the  Marlboro  Guards  were  organized,  with  Win.  H. 
Morrill,  Captain ;  J.  B.  Barrett,  First  Lieutenant ;  71  men. 
Early  in  May,  the  Third  Regiment  was  organized  at  Garys- 
burg  and  in  its  companies  were  84  men  from  Pitt. 

At  the  May  meeting  of  the  County  Court,  P.  A.  At- 
kinson, II.  S.  Clark,  F.  B.  Satterthwaite,  L.  P.  Beardsley 
and  Churchill  Perkins  were  appointed  a  Disbursing  and 
Safety  Committee  for  the  County.  P.  A.  Atkinson  was  ap- 
pointed treasurer.  Their  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  8th, 
when  II.  S.  Clark  was  elected  chairman  and  W.  M.  B.  Brown, 
secretary.  The  secretary  reported  that  subscriptions  amount- 
ing to  $4,300.76  had  been  received  and  that  $4,367.76  had 
been  paid  out  for  equipping  and  supporting  the  volunteers. 
More  funds  were  needed  and  it  was  decided  to  borrow  $10,000 
from  the  bank  of  Washington.  The  expenses  of  Lieutenant 
W.  A.  Bernard,  Dr.  C.  J.  O'llagan  and  W.  IT.  Shelley,  to 
Petersburg,  were  paid.  They  had  been  sent  there  on  busi- 
ness pertaining  to  military  affairs  of  the  County.  The  Com- 
mittee appointed  sub-committees  in  each  district,  whose  duty 
it  was  to  look  after  the  needs  and  wants  of  the  families  of 
those  who  had  volunteered  and  those  otherwise  destitute  and 
needy.  Of  the  military  fund  raised  for  equipping  and  pro- 
viding for  the  soldiers,  $3,840  were  raised  by  private  and  vol- 


SKKTCHES    <)}>'    IMTT    COUNTY.  121 

untary  subscriptions,  in  amounts  varying  from  $100  down 
to  ten  cents. 

That  the  war  spirit,  was  thoroughly  aroused  is  seen  by  the 
active  preparations  made  for  war.  .Many  were  enlisting  and 
going  to  the  front.  The  people  at  home  were  doing  great. 
things  to  sustain  them.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Justices  of  the 
County,  on  the  13th,  it  was  resolved  to  raise  $25,000  for 
equipping  and  sustaining  the  troops  sent  off  to  war. 

Pitt  County  men  were  enlisting  everywhere.  Some  were 
so  anxious  to  get  to  the  front  that  they  enlisted  in  companies 
already  there.  They  were  full  of  the  idea  advanced  by  many 
hot  secessionists  that  all  the  blood  to  be  shed  could  be  wiped 
up  with  a  pocket  handkerchief,  and  they  did  not  want  Uie  war 
ended  before  they  could  take  a  part. 

When  the  Third  Regiment  was  organized,  there  were  sixty 
men  in  Company  1),  from  Pitt.  Edward  Savage,  of  Xew 
Hanover,  was  Captain.  In  company  E,  M.  L.  F.  "Redd,  of 
Onslow,  Captain,  there  were  21.  There  were  also  a  few  others 
in  some  of  the  other  companies.  In  the  Second  Ilegiment 
were  10  men  in  Company  A,  and  others  in  other  companies. 


122  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-FOUR. 


MAJOR  GRIMES — WYATT  KILLED — DISPOSITION  OF  PITT 
COMPANIES  AND  MEN — HATTERAS  CAPTURED — PITT 
COUNTY  BOYS  PRISONERS — SURGEON  BROWN  AND  MADI- 
SON— YELLOWLY'S  CALL  FOR  VOLUNTEERS — OFFICERS  OF 
TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT  - — -  CHICAMACOMICO  —  PRO- 
MOTIONS. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  at  Camp  Hill, 
near  Garysburg,  Bryan  Grimes  was  commissioned  Major  of 
that  regiment.  He  was  offered  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
Eighth  or  Major  of  the  Fourth  and  chose  the  latter.  He  at 
once  resigned  as  a  member  of  the  Secession  Convention  and 
was  succeeded  by  P.  A.  Atkinson. 

On  the  10th  of  June  was  fought  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel, 
Virginia,  in  which  Henry  L.  Wyatt  was  killed,  being  the 
first  soldier  to  fall  in  battle  wearing  the  Gray.  He  was  at 
that  time  a  member  of  the  Edgecombe  Guards,  his  parents 
having  but  recently  moved  from  Greenville  to  Tarboro,  where 
he  enlisted.  Though  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  most  of 
his  life  was  spent  in  Greenville,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  received  most  of  his  education,  all  of  which  he  received 
in  Pitt  County.  Pitt  has  as  much  claim  to  him  as  a  hero  as 
has  Edgecombe,  as  it  was  only  a  circumstance  that  gave  him 
to  that  county. 

The  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  was  organized  at  Xew  Bern, 
June  22d,  Captain  Singeltary's  and  Captain  Morrill's  compa- 
nies being  two  of  its  companies.  Captain  Singeltary  was 
elected  Colonel,  and  R.  W.  Singeltary  succeeded  him  as  Cap- 
tain of  the  company,  which  was  known  as  "H."  Captain 
Merrill's  company  was  "E."  The  Tar  River  Boys  had  been 
sent  to  Portsmouth,  X.  C.,  and  in  July,  Captain  Johnson  was 
elected  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Volunteers,  and  the 
volunteers  sent  to  Ilattoras.  On  the  13th,  Dr.  Wyatt  M. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  123 

Brown  was  elected  Surgeon  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment. 
He  had  been  a  surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  Army,  but  some  time 
previous  had  resigned  and  located  at  his  old  home,  Greenville, 
with  his  brother,  the  Into  Dr.  \V.  M.  B.  Brown.  Dr.  0.  J. 
O'llagan  was  elected  Surgeon  of  the  Ninth.  In  the  Thirty- 
third,  organized  this  month,  Pitt  had  20  men  in  Company  I>. 

The  last  recorded  meeting  of  the  Disbursing  and  Safety 
Committee  was  held  on  the  13th.  The  only  business  was 
allowing  some  accounts  and  only  two  members,  L.  P.  Beards- 
ley  and  P.  A.  Atkinson,  and  the  secretary,  were  present. 

August  28th  Fort  Hatteras  was  attacked  by  a  large  fleet. 
Next  day  the  attack  was  resumed.  In  the  defense  of  the  fort, 
numbers  2  and  3  of  the  channel  batteries  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  W.  Johnson,  assisted  by 
First-Lieutenant  M.  T.  Moye  and  Second-Lieutenant  G.  W. 
Daniel.  The  guns  of  the  fort  could  not  reach  the  boats, 
while  those  of  the  boats  were  throwing  more  than  twenty 
shells  a  minute  into  the  fort,  and  after  receiving  that  bom- 
bardment three  hours  and  twenty  minutes,  the  fort  was  sur- 
rendered, with  many  prisoners,  though  some  of  the  Confed- 
erates managed  to  escape.  Most  of  the  Tar  River  Boys  were 
taken  prisoners  and  sent  to  Fort  Warren.  Surgeon  Brown 
had  his  body  servant,  Madison,  with  him.  Madison  was 
offered  his  liberty,  but  preferring  to  remain  with  his  master, 
was  sent  on  a  prisoner  with  the  others. 

Some  time  later  Surgeon  Brown  was  exchanged  and  made 
chairman  of  the  State  Examining  Board  of  Surgeons,  with 
headquarters  at  Goldsboro.  Afterwards  he  was  transferred 
to  Mississippi.  He  never  forgot  his  faithful  servant  Madi- 
son, and  made  provision  for  him  after  he  was  freed. 

E.  C.  Yellowly  and  A.  J.  limes,  who  had  been  commis- 
sioned respectively  Captain  and  First  Lieutenant,  to  raise  a 
company,  had  enlisted  128  men  by  September.  In  July  they 
had  issued  the  following  circular: 


124  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

ONE    HUNDRED  MEN  WANTED 

FOB  THE  FIRST  REGIMENT 
OF  STATE  TROOPS. 

The  undersigned  are  now  raising  a  company  of  State  troops 
to  complete  the  first  regiment,  of  which  Col.  Stokes  is  in  com- 
mand. It  is  desirable  that  this  company  should  be  formed  as 
speedily  as  practicable,  that  it  may  secure  a  position  under  so 
efficient  and  experienced  an  officer  as  Col.  Stokes,  and  the  more 
speedily  it  is  formed  the  more  speedily  will  it  be  led  to  meet 
an  enemy  now  ready  to  commence  its  long-threatened  attempt 
to  invade  our  homes  and  subjugate  a  free  people. 

Recruits  will  be  enlisted  at  Greenville,  Pitt  County,  by  tlie 
undersigned  until  the  Company  is  formed. 

E.  C.  YELLOWLY,  Capt. 
GREENVILLE,  July  10,  1861.  A.   J.  HINES,  1st.  Lieut. 

However,  it  was  not  formed  in  time  to  get  into  the  First 
Regiment,  but  got  into  the  Eighth  Regiment  at  Camp  Ma- 
con,  as  Company  G,  on  its  organization  on  the  13th.  C.  D. 
Roimtree  and '  Walter  X.  Peebles  were  elected  Lieutenants. 
The  regiment  soon  left  for  Roanoke  Island,  where  it  arrived 
on  the  21st. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Regi- 
ment, four  companies  volunteered  for  the  war,  wrhich  reduced 
it  to  a  battalion  of  twelve  months  volunteers,  of  which  G.  B. 
Singeltary  was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel.  Before  the  close 
of  the  month  four  other  companies  had  been  added  and  it  was 
reorganized  as  a  reciment.  G.  B.  Sina'eltary  was  ac'ain 

<— •  O  t/  O 

elected  Colonel  and  his  brother,  T.  C.  Singeltary,  of  Company 
E,  Major.  R.  "W.  Singeltary  was  elected  Captain  of  Com- 
pany II;  J.  A.  Williams,  First  Lieutenant;  G.  W.  Cox,  Sec- 
ond, and  C.  F.  Gaskins,  Third. 

October  4th,  was  the  fight  at  Chicamacomico,  in  which  the 
Eighth  captured  the  Federal  camp  and  55  prisoners.  On  the 
Gth  the  camp  at  Roanoke  was  captured,  with  much  camp 
plunder.  In  both  of  these  actions  Company  G  was  engaged 
and  did  its  duty. 

In  November  Captain  Morrill,  having  been  promoted  Com- 
missary of  his  regiment,  (27th)  resigned,  and  was  succeeded 


SKKTUHKS    OK    J'ITT    COUNTY.  125 

by  Jason  P.  Joyner,  as  Captain  of  Company  F.  He  was  pro- 
moted from  Adjutant.  II.  F.  Price  was  elected  First- 1, ion- 
tenant. 

In  December  Colonel  G.  B.  Singeltary  resigned  as  Colonel 
of  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  and  was  succeeded  by  John 
Sloan,  the  Lieutenant-Colonel,  who  was  in  turn  .succeeded  by 
T.  C.  Singeltary  soon  thereafter. 


126  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIVE. 


ENLISTMENTS-— MILITARY  BOARD — CAPTURE  OF  ROANOKE 
ISLAND — COMPANIES  AND  OFFICERS — FORTY-FOURTH 
REGIMENT — SEVENTEENTH — GRIMES,  LIEUTENANT-COLO- 
NEL-— FIFTY-FIFTH — TRANTERS  CREEK  SKIRMISH — FIGHT 
A  FEW  DAYS  LATER — -COLONEL  SINGELTARY  KILLED — 
MOVEMENTS — SEVENTY-FIFTH. 

January,  1SG2,  found  more  than  500  Pitt  County  men  en- 
listed and  more  ready.  Eleven  men  enlisted  in  a  company 
then  forming  in  Wake,  which  afterwards  became  Company 
I,  of  the  Forty-fifth  Regiment.  R.  W.  Singeltary  was  elected 
Captain  of  a  company  then  forming,  which  afterwards  became 
IT,  of  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment.  IT.  F.  Price  was  elected 
Captain  of  Company  H,  of  the  Twenty-seventh,  to  succeed  R. 
W.  Singeltary.  D.  IT.  Smith  and  W.  L.  Cherry  had  each 
been  commissioned  to  raise  a  company  and  were  actively  do- 
ing so. 

February  6th,  the  County  Court  elected  a  Military  Board 
for  the  County,  John  S.  Smith,  Dr.  W.  M.  B.  Brown  and 
Arthur  Forbes,  constituting  that  Board. 

On  the  8th,  the  Federal  fleet,  which  had  been  off  Hatteras 
since  January  23d,  began  an  attack  on  Roanoke  Island,  and 
for  five  hours  1,400  Confederates  withstood  the  attack  of 
10,000  Federals.  The  end  was  the  surrender  of  the  Confed- 
erates. They  were  carried  as  prisoners  to  Elizabeth  City, 
where  they  were  soon  paroled.  On  the  14th,  L.  R.  Anderson 
and  Cornelius  Stephens  were  commissioned  Captain  and  Lieu- 
tenant of  a  company  of  112  men,  enlisted  by  them.  Fifteen 
men  from  Pitt  were  enlisted  in  Company  D,  J.  M.  C.  Luke, 
Captain,  from  Hertford  County,  Seventeenth  Regiment.  The 
Twenty-seventh  Regiment  was  now  at  Fort  Lane,  below  Xew 
Bern,  where,  about  the  last  of  this  month,  T.  C.  Singeltary, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  resigned,  and  R.  W.  Singeltary  sue- 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

ceeded  Colonel  Sloan.  McG.  Ernul  was  elected  First-Lieu- 
tenant of  Company  G,  of"  the  same  regiment. 

The  Twenty-seventh  was  in  a  light  at  New  Bern,  March 
25th.  While  it  did  little  of  the  lighting,  it  held  an  important 
position  and  was  the  last  to  leave  the  lield,  al'ter  which  ii 
marched  to  Xinston.  The  Forty-fourth  Regiment  was  or- 
ganized at  Camp  Mangum,  near  Raleigh,  the  last  of  this 
month,  with  G.  B.  Singeltary,  Colonel.  Abram  Cox  was  As- 
sistant Commissary  Sergeant,  Dr.  J.  .X.  Byrium,  Assistant 
Surgeon,  and  W.  L.  Cherry,  one  of  the  Quartermasters. 
Companies  C,  W.  L.  Cherry,  Captain ;  Abram  Cox,  First 
Lieutenant,  131  men;  I),  L.  R.  Anderson,  Captain;  C. 
Stephens,  First  Lieutenant,  110  men;  and  I,  D.  II.  Smith, 
Captain;  J.  J.  Bland,  First  Lieutenant,  120  men;  and  a 
few  men  in  other  companies  were  from  Pitt. 

Tn  April  another  company,  Howard  Wiswall,  Captain  ;  J. 
II.  Gray,  First  Lieutenant;  117  men,  became  K,  of  the  Sev- 
enteenth Regiment.  R.  W.  Singeltary  was  elected  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of  the  Seventeenth,  and  that  regiment  went  to 
Virginia,  where  it  was  put  in  General  Walker's  Brigade. 

Early  in  May,  Colonel  Anderson,  of  the  Fourth,  was  put 
in  command  of  the  brigade,  at  AYilliamsburg,  Virginia,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Grimes  was  in  command  of  the  regiment. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Fifty-fifth  Regiment,  at  Camp 
Mangum,  J.  T.  Whitehead  was  elected  Major,  C.  E.  Jackey, 
Chief  Musician,  and  J.  P.  Bernard,  one  of  the  musicians. 
Company  E,  J.  T.  Whitehead,  Captain,  and  IT.  W.  Brown, 
First  Lieutenant,  90  men,  were  from  Pitt.  On  the  10th,  the 
Forty-fourth  was  sent  to  Tarboro  and  did  picket  duty  in  that 
section  and  Pitt,  being  included  in  the  Pamlico  division, 
under  Brigadier-General  Martin.  First  Lieutenant  Brown, 
of  Company  E,  Fifty-fifth  Regiment,  resigned,  and  J.  A. 
Hanrahan  succeeded  him.  On  the  30th,  a  picket  squad,  of  the 
Forty-fourth,  had  a  skirmish  with  a  few  Federals  at  Tranter's 
Creek.  The  squad  had  been  to  Washington  to  exchange 


128  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

about  300  prisoners.  Returning,  it  left  the  river  at  Yankee 
Hall  and  marched  to  Myers'  Mill.  A  squad  of  sixteen  Fed- 
erals •were  then  about  Latham's  Cross-Roads.  Church  La- 
tham, a  merchant  there,  tried  to  hide  his  books,  which  created 
some  suspicion.  The  Federals  examined  them  and  finding 
nothing  wrong,  went  on  to  the  bridge.  As  they  were  cross- 
ing they  were  fired  into.  E.  P.  Fleming,  of  Company  B, 
fired  the  first  shot.  There  was  big  rise  in  the  water  and  a 
boy  was  the  first  to  give  information  of  their  approach.  They 
crossed  the  bridge  and  went  on  to  the  mill,  where  the  others 
of  the  squad  were  on  guard.  There  they  swam  the  creek 
and  returned  to  Washington,  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and 
perhaps  some  wounded.  ]S^cxt  day  some  of  them  returned 
and  tore  up  the  bridge.  On  the  31st,  the  Twenty-seventh 
Regiment,  which  was  at  Kinston,  was  sent  to  Virginia.  On 
that  day  was  fought  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  whore  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel  Grimes'  Regiment  got  its  name  of  the 
''Bloody  Fourth."  lie  was  the  only  officer  of  the  Regiment 
not  either  killed  or  wounded. 

The  affair  at  Tranter's  Creek  alarmed  the  Federals  at 
Washington  and  they  prepared  to  drive  the  Confederates 
away.  A  few  clays  later  the  Forty-fourth  and  a  part  of  the 
Third  Cavalry  were  in  the  vicinity.  On  the  5th  of  Tune, 
about  500  Federals,  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  of  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  F.  A.  Osborn 
and  sonic  cavalry,  attacked  the  Confederates  at  the  mill,  on 
Tranter's  Creek.  They  did  not  cross  and  most  of  the  tight- 
ing  was  from  cover,  the  Federals  from  the  mill  on  the  Beau- 
fort side  and  the  Confederates  from  the  gin-house  on  the  Pitt 
side.  The  result  was  seven  killed  and  eight  wounded  of  the 
Federals  and  six  killed  of  the  Confederates.  Among  the  Con- 
federates was  Colonel  Singeltary.  It  is  said  that  seeing  a 
Federal  iretting  ready  to  shoot,  he  ordered  one  of  his  men  to 
shoot,  pointing  at  him,  when  a  ball  pierced  his  head,  killing 
him  almost  in-iantly.  After  the  fight  the  Federals  returned 
to  \Va>hiii£i-1oH  and  the  Confederates  to  Tarboro. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  12'J 

Dr.  C.  J.  O'JIagaii  was  elected  Surgeon  of  tbe  Thirty-iifth 
Regiment  on  the  17th  of  June.  The  Twenty-seventh  Regi- 
ment was  in  the  Seven  Days  fight  around  Richmond,  but  its 
losses  were  light.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gotten  having  re- 
signed, T.  C.  Singeltary  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
fourth,  which  went  to  Virginia  and  was  in  General  Petti- 
grew's  Brigade.  At  Mechanicsville  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Grimes  had  a  horse  killed  under  him. 

In  July  the  Seventy-first  Regiment  was  formed  by  taking 
companies  of  other  commands.  It  was  also  known  as  the 
Seventh  Cavalry.  In  Company  II,  of  which  L.  .1.  Barrett 
was  later  elected  Captain,  were  several  men  from  Pitt,  and 
also  a  few  in  other  companies.  Captain  Barrett  was  pro- 
moted from  the  ranks. 


130  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 


CITAPT ER  TWENTY-SIX. 


VANCE  ELECTED  GOVERNOR — STATE  CENSUS — YELLOWLY 
FOR  CONGRESS — FIFTY-FIFTH  AT  KINSTON — GENERAL, 
(  'LINGMAN'S  COMPLAINT — MARYLAND  CAMPAIGN — CAP- 
TAIN JOYNER  KILLED — HEAVY  LOSSES — SINGELTARY'S 
REPLY — MOVEMENT  OF  TROOPS — HADDOCK'S  CROSS-ROADS 
—FEDERALS  CAPTURE  GREENVILLE — OTHER  EVENTS. 

hi  the  August  election  Z.  B.  Vance,  then  Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-sixth,  defeated  William  Johnston,  of  Charlotte,  for 
Governor.  Pitt's  vote  was  649  for  Vance  and  229  for  John- 
ston. As  reported  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  State  cen- 
sus gave  Pitt  a  population  of  16,793,  there  being  7,480 
whit*  s,  127  free  negroes  and  8,473  slaves.  This  year  Captain 


STATE  CAPITOL,  RALEIGH,  X.  C. 

E.  ( '.  Yellowly  was  a  candidate  for  representative  in  the  Con- 
federate Congress  against  the  incumbent  R.  R.  Bridgers.  On 
the  returns  Bridgers  wras  elected  but  Captain  Yrellowly's 
friends  claimed  he  had  been  cheated  out  of  his  election,  and 
wanted  him  to  contest,  which  he  refused  to  do. 

On  the  7th,  the  Fifty-fifth  prevented  the  landing  of  troops 
from  a  gunboat  at  Kinston.  Lieut. -Col.  J.  T.  Whitehead, 
of  the  Fifty- fifth,  being  dead,  Capt.  M.  T.  Smith  succeeded 
him. 

In  the  summer  Brig.-Gen.  T.  L.  Clingman,  who  had  some 
supervision  of  this  section,  wrote  to  Gen.  D.  II.  Hill,  that 
two  companies  cf  cavalry,  one  on  either  side  of  Tar  River, 


SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY.  131 

were  not  sufficient  to  prevent  intercourse  between  the  Fed- 
erals below  and  the  people  above;  that  the  Federals  gut  Kich- 
uioiid  papers  regularly  and  also  other  news;  that  Satter- 
thwaite,  a  member  of  the  State  convention,  lived  within  the 
Federal  lines,  but  was  allowed  to  go  to  Greenville  whenever 
he  wished,  and  others  were  allowed  the  same  privilege.  lie 
thought  such  intercourse  should  not  be  allowed. 

In  the  Maryland  campaign,  the  Twenty-seventh  formed 
the  rear  guard,  and  had  no  hard  fighting  in  the  beginning. 
In  crossing  the  Potomac,  on  September  5th,  Colonel  Grimes 
received  a  severe  injury  by  being  kicked  by  a  horse.  Farly 
in  this  month,  the  Eighth,  which  had  been  captured  at  Koan- 
oke  Island  and  later  exchanged,  reorganized,  at  Camp  ^Ian- 
gum,  and  was  sent  east,  where,  about  Kinston,  it  did  picket 
duties,  as  also  the  Fifty-fifth  was  doing.  In  the  battle  of 
South  ^Mountain,  on  the  14th,  Colonel  Grimes  had  a  horse 
killed  under  him.  At  Sharpsburg,  or  Antietam,  on  the  17th, 
the  Twenty-seventh  lost  203  men  out  of  325.  Company  E 
had  two-thirds'  of  its  men  and  officers  killed  or  wounded, 
among  the  killed  being  J.  P.  Joyner,  its  Captain.  It  had 
only  four  men  able  for  duty  next  day.  When  starting  to 
make  the  charge  in  this  battle,  a  drunken  fellow  on  horse- 
back rode  out  in  front,  pulled  off  his  hat,  waved  it  high  and 
said,  "Come  OIL,  boys,  I'm  leading  this  charge."  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Ii.  W.  Singeltary,  who  was  leading  it,  replied, 
"You're  a  liar,  sir;  we  lead  our  own  charges."  In  this  battle, 
with  only  one  man  to  a  panel  of  fence,  the  Third  held  its  posi- 
tion from  midday  of  the  17th  to  10  a.  m.  on  the  ISth,  without 
so  much  as  a  drop  of  water,  all  of  which  time  Federal  ar- 
tillery played  ''battle-door  and  shuttle-cock"  with  these  fence 
rails.  In  addition  to  losing  its  Captain,  Company  E  lost  its 
First  and  Second  Lieutenants  killed.  TJ.  W.  Toyner.  brother 
of  Captain  T.  P.  Toyner,  was  elected  Captain  afterwards. 
The  latter  part  of  the  month.  II.  G.  Whitehead  was  promoted 
Captain,  nnd  J.  A.  Ilanrahan.  First  Lieutenant  of  Company 
E.  Fiftv-fifth  Regiment. 


132  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

Early  in  October  the  Fifty-fifth  went  to  Virginia  and  was 
put  in  the  brigade  of  Brigadier-General  J.  R.  Davis,  of 
Mississippi.  R.  W.  Singeltary  resigned  as  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel of  the  Twenty-seventh,  and  John  R,  Cooke  succeeded 
him.  C.  Stephens  resigned  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company 
D,  Forty-fourth  Regiment,  and  J.  S.  Eason  succeeded. 

This  month  was  also  noted  for  two  expeditions  into  Pitt 
by  the  Federals  from  Washington ;  one  to  the  Haddock's 
cross  roads  section  was  piloted  by  one  Horner,  a  buffalo. 
Several  men  of  Captain  C.  A.  White's  company  were  cap- 
tured. Horner  is  said  to  have  been  rewarded  by  the  Fed- 
erals with  the  office  or  title  of  captain. 

The  other  expedition  was  also  from  Washington,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  Greenville.  It  consisted  of  the  steamer 
Xorth  State,  mounting  one  24-pounder  Howitzer  and  six 
men;  a  launch  with  one  12-pounder  Llowitzer  and  seventeen 
men ;  a  flat  boat  and  seventeen  men,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant 
McLane,  and  fourteen  men  with  a  Howitzer,  in  care  of  Gun- 
ner McDonald.  The  expedition  left  Washington  on  the  8th 
at  4:30  p.  m.  and  arrived  at  Greenville  the  next  day  about 
ten  o'clock,  after  having  some  difficulty  in  passing  sandbars. 
The  expedition  was  under  Second  Assistant  Engineer  Lay,  of 
the  U.  S.  Xavy,  who  proceeded  up-town  under  a  flag  of  truce 
to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  town,  which  was  done  by  the 
Mayor.  Some  Confederates  were  on  the  bridge  when  the  ex- 
pedition arrived.  One  boat  went  a  little  up  the  river  from 
the  wharf,  and  one  of  those  on  the  bridge,  W.  C.  Richardson, 
killed  a  Federal  soldier  on  that  boat.  Richardson  then 
escaped,  but  it  had  the  effect  of  exciting  the  Federals  to  retali- 
ation. They  made  many  threats  of  vengeance,  but  finding 
it  was  a  soldier  and  not  a  private  who  had  killed  the  man, 
they  took  a  lot  of  horses,  mules,  stores,  and  provisions  and 
ten  of  the  citizens  and  left.  In  the  expedition  were  a  lot  of 
negro  soldiers  in  uniforms  with  belts,  swords  and  pistols. 
They  drew  the  artillery  through  the  streets,  and  when  leaving 
nave  a  general  invitation  to  all  the  negroes  to  £>-,->  with  them. 


SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY.  133 

None  went  at  th.it  time.  The  citizens  who  wore  taken  were 
J.  S.  Jhincy,  Hodges,  Hoell,  Tyce,  Cobb,  H.  Alhritton,  R. 
Greene,-  Allen  Tyce,  James  Forbes  and  William  Stocks. 
They  wore  taken  to  Washington,  held  a  few  days  and  released. 
Brigadier-General  Anderson,  having  been  seriously 

O  7  O  «/ 

wounded,  Colonel  Grimes  was  now  in  command  of  Ander- 
son's Brigade  and  commanded  it  in  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg. 

The  latter  part  of  the  month,  J.  T.  Williams,  Lieutenant  of 
Company  E,  Twenty-seventh,  was  promoted  Captain  of  Com- 
pany G,  same  regiment.  About  the  first  of  December,  W. 
L.  Cherry,  Captain  of  Company  C,  Forty-fourth,  was  pro- 
moted Assistant  Quartermaster  and  M.  G.  Cherry  succeeded 
him.  On  the  10th,  a  detachment  of  the  Seventeenth  par- 
ticipated in  the  capture  of  Plymouth,  while  another  detach- 
ment helped  drive  the  Federals  from  Washington.  The 
Twenty-seventh  was  at  Fredericksburg,but  suffered  little,  and 
at  jMarye's  Heights,  was  protected  by  a  rock  wall.  Since  re- 
organization, the  Eighth  had  been  in  camp  about  Wilmington, 
but  on  the  17th,  was  near  Goldsboro  and  after  a  several  hours 
fight,  succeeded  in  checking  the  advance  of  the  Federals,  who 
however,  burned  the  bridge  across  Xeuse  TJivor.  There  had 
been  a  number  of  changes  in  the  officers  of  the  Pitt  companies 
during  the  last  few  months,  most  of  which  have  been  men- 
tioned. The  changes  of  the  minor  officers  were  very  frequent. 


134  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-SEVEN. 


EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION — MOVEMENTS  OF  TROOPS — 
COLONEL  GRIFFIN  IN  PITT — His  PICKET  LINES — TITHE 
GATHERERS — COLONEL  HAMMOND — His  PREDICAMENT — 
CONVERSATION — ESCAPE  —  CIIANCELLORSVILLE  --  JACK- 
SON KILLED — IN  VIRGINIA. 

Though  the  Confederate  States  were  being  hemmed  in 
by  great  Federal  armies  and  there  was  want  within  its  con- 
fines, the  great  Confederate  victories  gave  hopes  of  an  early 
termination  of  the  war ;  but  at  the  same  time  there  was  more 
determination  on  the  part  of  the  North  to  win  in  the  end.  So, 
greater  efforts  were  made  to  raise  men  and  money  and  to 
cripple  the  South. 

January  1st,  1863,  gave  the  country  President  Lincoln's 
Emancipation  Proclamation,  by  which  he  declared  free  all 
the  slaves  of  the  Confederate  States.  So  far  as  the  slaves 
themselves  were  concerned,  it  had  little  effect,  for  few  of 
them  knew  of  it  or  could  profit  by  it.  In  Pitt,  it  may  have 
induced  a  few  more  to  run  away  and  enter  the  Federal  lines 
about  New  Bern  and  Washington.  Those  who  remained  with 
their  masters,  remained  as  faithful  as  before.  During  this 
month  the  Twenty-seventh  had  seen  service  around  Wilming- 
ton, Charleston,  Goldsboro  and  Kinston,  at  which  latter  place 
it  was  at  this  time.  The  Seventeenth  had  been  brigaded 
under  General  Martin. 

Colonel  Grimes  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  bri- 
gade early  in  February  by  Brigadier-General  Ramseur,  and 
devoted  his  talents  to  increasing  the  efficiency  of  his  regi- 
ment. The  Eighth  was  now  at  James  Island,  S.  C.,  where 
there  were  many  deaths.  It  was  also  on  an  expedition  to 
Savannah. 

In  March  the  Seventeenth  was  on  duty  about  Fort  Branch, 
after  which  it  was  about  Kinston  and  Wilmington.  The 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


135 


complaint  of  Gener.nl  Clinirman  seems  to  have  been  lieard, 
for  Colonel  Griffin,  of  the  Sixty-second  Georgia  liciritiu-nt, 
with  three  companies  of  North  Carolina  troops,  with  head- 
quarters at  the  Avon  farm,  did  picket  duty  from  Jilouiit's 
Creek  to  Williamston.  Half  his  regiment  was  at  the  Avon. 
All  communication  and  passing  was  forbidden  between  the 
people,  across  his  picket  lines,  except  to  the  1'ev.  Mi-.  Kenerly. 
Captain  Gray  (of  Georgia)  was  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river  at  Colonel  Gray  Little's,  near  Pactolus.  Later  Colonel 
Griffin  moved  up  to  the  Clark  place,  on  the  east  >ide  of  the 


CONFEDERATE  PLAT  IN  CEMETERY,  GREENVILLE. 
The  cannon  shown  i.s  the  Buckell  Cannon. 

river,  above  Greenville.     There  it  was  easier  to  get  supplies, 
and  Mrs.  S.  W.  Atkinson  furnished  him  pasturage. 

Pitt  County  now  had  ''Tithe  Gatherers,"  whose  business 
was  to  collect  one-tenth  of  the  products  of  the  County  and 


136  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

forward  them  to  the  army  in  the  field.  For  the  Bethel  sec- 
tion, including  parts  of  Edgecombe  and  Martin  counties,  N. 
M.  Hammond  held  the  position.  At  one  time  he  had  a  large 
amount  of  supplies  on  hand  and  the  Federals  heard  of  it. 
Though  he  had  usually  a  squad  of  soldiers  for  a  guard,  at 
this  time  there  were  not  that  many  on  hand.  There  had 
been  a  detachment  at  the  bridges  across  Conetoe  Creek,  but 
they  had  gone  away  a  few  days  before.  He  did  not  sleep 
too  well  now,  for  he  feared  the  supplies  might  be  captured. 
Sure  enough,  late  one  night  Mrs.  Hammond  was  aroused  by 
the  tread  of  horses  in  the  yard.  She  detected  it  was  not  the 
tread  of  Confederate  horses,  the  Confederate  and  Federal 
cavalry  drilling  different.  She  aroused  Colonel  Hammond. 

t/  O 

who  had  really  been  listening  too.  Soon  a  man  called  and 
being  answered,  asked  about  getting  something  for  his  horse. 
Then  Colonel  Hammond  knew  it  was  the  Federals.  He  told 
them  to  go  to  his  barn,  where  they  would  find  plenty  of  corn 
and  fodder.  Other  questions  were  being  asked  and  answered, 
when  the  report  of  a  gun  was  heard  some  distance  away, 
about  where  old  Bethel  was.  The  Federals  got  scared,  and 
scared  badly,  as  they  were  very  few.  Then  something  like 
the  following  conversation,  though  very  hurriedly,  passed 
between  them  : 

Federal :     Any  Confederates  about  here  ? 

Colonel  Hammond:  Yes;  Colonel .  is  at  the 

bridges,  a  mile  or  two  west  of  here. 

Federal:  Any  Confederates  down  there?  (Here  the  re- 
port of  the  guns  was  heard). 

Colonel  Hammond:     Ye?. 

Federal :     How  many  ?     Are  any  about  here  ? 

Colonel  Hammond  :     I  don't  know. 

Federal :  Well,  you  know  you  are  our  prisoner,  but  if 
you  will  tell  us  how  to  get  away  from  here,  -  -  if  you 
mayn't  go. 

Tt  is  needles?  to  sav  Colonel  Hammond  told  them  and  they 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  137 

were  as  glad  as  ho  was;  and  all  the  supplies  wore  saved  and 
soon  found  their  way  to  the  Confederate  armies. 

On  J\Iay  LM  and  3d  was  fought  the  battle  of  Chanccllors- 
ville,  in  which  battle  Gen.  "Stonewall"  Jackson  was  mortally 
wounded.  Pitt  County  had  many  men  in  that,  battle  and 
among  the  hundreds  of  others,  had  one  who  was  of  the  squad 
that  fired  that  fatal  shot.  General  Jackson  died  on  the  10th, 
his  body  was  taken  to  Richmond  and  lay  in  state  in  the 
capitol,  Company  1),  Forty-fourth  Regiment,  being  the  Guard 
of  Honor.  The  Twenty-seventh  had  a  fight  at  Gun  Swamp 
and  drove  the  Federals  into  their  lines  near  Xew  Bern  on 
the  19th. 

June  1st,  the  Twenty-seventh  was  ordered  to  Virginia  and 
was  on  duty  and  fighting  around  Richmond  all  the  summer. 

At  South  Anna  Bridge,  on  the  2Gth,  the  Forty-fourth  suf- 
fered heavy  losses.  At,  one  time  the  regiment  was  sur- 
rounded and  commanded  to  surrender,  but  cut  its  way  out. 
One  officer,  when  ordered  to  surrender,  said,  uNo,  I'll  be  d — d 
if  I  do,"  and  fmurht  till  befell. 


13S  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-EIGHTH. 


GETTYSBURG — FARTHEST  AT — SEVERE  LOSSES — POTTER'S 
RAID — AT  GREENVILLE — VIDETTES  FIRED  UPON — RE- 
TURN FROM  TARBORO — SKIRMISH  AT  OTTER'S  CREEK 
BRIDGE — LIEUTENANT  SHARPE — ESCAPE  OF  RAIDERS — 
THEIR  ROUTE — AT  SCUFFLETON — DEMORALIZATION  OF 
FOLLOWERS. 

July  1st,  2d  and  3d  was  fought  the  great  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. Xorth  Carolina  had  there  twelve  regiments  and  one 
battalion.  In  the  Third  and  Fifty-fifth,  Pitt  County  had 
near  a  company  each.  On  the  third  day,  the  Fifty-fifth  went 
farthest  in  the  Federal  lines,  Company  E,  Capt.  H.  G.  White- 
head's,  being  in  the  lead.  Captain  Whitchead  was  wounded 
the  day  before  and  was  not  in  this  charge.  The  regiment 
lost  more  than  half  its  men,  killed  or  wounded.  The  Third 
fought  in  the  open  on  the  third  day  and  suffered  very  severely. 
Going  into  battle  with  300  guns,  it  lost  220.  After  the  bat- 
tle it  had  only  seventy-seven  guns.  But  it  lost  none  as  pris- 
oners or  stragglers. 

Potter's  raid  from  ISTew  Bern  to  Tarboro  and  return, 
through  Pitt,  was  the  cause  of  much  excitement  this  month. 
Brigadier-General  E.  E.  Potter,  with  several  companies  of 
infantry  and  cavalry,  left  Xew  Bern  on  the  19th.  Coming 
by  way  of  \ranceboro,  they  raided  the  country,  and  when  a 
few  miles  from  Greenville  they  captured  a  picket  post  of  fif- 
teen men,  destroying  their  stores  and  tents.  They  were  a  part 
of  Captain  C.  A.  White's  company,  of  Whitford's  Battalion. 
They  reached  Greenville  about  3  p.  m.  Some  time  was  spent 
plundering  and  taking  what  they  could  use  and  about  six  p. 
m.  they  continued  their  raid  on  towards  Tarboi'o,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river.  When  nearing  Tyson's  Creek,  they 
were  fired  upon  three  times  by  unknown  and  unseen  parties. 
They  reached  Old  Sparta  the  next  morning  and  by  nine 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  139 

o'clock  were  in  Tarboro.  A  detachment  was  sent  on  to 
Rocky  Mount  and  at  both  places  much  property  was  de- 
stroyed, consisting  of  bales  of  cotton,  flour,  provisions,  tlnve 
boals,  the  cotton  mills  at  Rocky  Mount,  railroad  and  county 
bridges,  several  trains,  and  other  property.  The,  Tarboro 
raiders  returned  the  same  day.  Shortly  after  passing  Old 
Sparta,  they  were  fired  upon  and  a  somewhat  running  skir- 
mish was  kept  up  to  Otter's  Creek,  though  the  officers  took 
time  to  get  a  good  supper  at  W.  B.  F.  Newton's,  who  lived  at 
the  Swain  place.  While  there  several  neighbors  tried  to  get 
an  opportunity  to  shoot  some  of  them  and  one  James  Dupree, 
son  of  Thomas  Dupree,  a  boy  about  sixteen,  was  captured  with 
his  gun,  but  was  released.  Learning  of  the  raid,  Colonel  Clai- 
borne  left  Kinston  with  his  regiment  to  intercept  them.  He 
met  them  about  night  at  Otter's  Creek  bridge,  about  a  mile 
from  Falkland.  The  bridge  was  burned  by  Colonel  Clai- 
borne.  Here  a  sharp  skirmish  fight  occurred  and  the  Fed- 
erals finding  they  could  not  dislodge  the  Confederates,  made 
a  round-about  march  and  crossed  the  creek  at  the  Dupree 
crossing.  Lieutenant  V.  B.  Sharpe,  of  Company  E,  Forty- 
third,  knowing  the  country,  begged  Colonel  Claiborne  to  let 
him  have  a  company  to  intercept  them  at  that  crossing,  where 
he  stated  he  could  capture  them  all.  Colonel  Claiborne  would 
not  do  so,  so  they  escaped  and  continued  on  their  raid. 
Across  the  creek,  two  citizens.  Col.  Walter  Newton  and  W.  B. 
F.  Newton,  were  on  the  road  with  their  guns.  It  was  night 
and  they  fired  into  the  Federals  and  run.  They  did  no  dam- 
age. Arriving  at  Colonel  Newton's  house  they  attempted 
to  burn  it,  and  then  left  by  the  Otter's  Creek  church  road. 
The  negroes  put  the  fire  out  before  the  house  was  much  dam- 
aged. Going  on  bv  way  of  the  church,  the  Federals  looted 

O  i/  i/ 

the  country  of  all  they  could.  Going  into  Greene  County 
by  way  of  Fieldsboro  they  made  a  circuit  near  Snow  Hill  and 
reached  Scuffleton  (Ridge  Spring)  next  day.  Whitford's 
Battalion  was  in  that  vicinity  and  a  fight  was  expected  there. 


140  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

But  no  stand  was  made.  Captain  Edwards,  of  Company  C, 
simply  Lad  the  planks  of  the  Scuffleton  bridge  taken  up,  and 
left,  narowly  escaping  capture  himself.  As  the  Federals 
were  crossing  the  bridge,  which  they.rclaid,  Josiah  Dixon, 
who,  with  two  others,  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  fired 
into  their  rear.  It  was  early  in  the  morning  and  the  raiders 
thinking  they  were  attacked,  fled,  leaving  some  horses 
and  baggage,  which  the  three  took. 

The  expedition  consisted  of  about  300  men  and  officers. 
By  the  time  they  got  back  to  Burney's  cross  roads,  they  had  a 
big  lot  of  negroes,  horses,  mules,  wagons,  provisions,  and 
other  things.  There  the  Fiftieth  Regiment  from  Kinston 
tried  to  intercept  them.  The  Fiftieth  opened  fire  on  them 
with  a  small  brass  cannon  strapped  to  the  back  of  a  mule, 
which  had  little  effect  other  than  to  completely  demoralize 
the  followers,  mostly  negroes.  That  great  mob,  composed  of 
men,  women,  children  and  babies,  perched  on  wagons,  carts, 
buggies,  carriages,  and  on  horseback,  whipping,  slashing  and 
yelling  like  crazy  Indians,  were  suddenly  halted  by  that 
mule's  cannon  firing  on  some  negro  troops  in  the  rear.  Pan- 
demonium reigned  and  the  whole  became  a  confused  mass  in 
their  efforts  to  escape.  A  negro  captain,  driving  a  pair  of 
fine  gray  horses,  was  shot  dead  as  he  attempted  to  pass,  firing 
at  the  Confederates.  Others  were  killed  or  wounded  about 
in  the  woods  where  they  were  trying  to  escape  or  shoot  sol- 
diers. Scouring  the  woods  many  negroes  were  found  and 
captured.  Among  them  were  many  children,  even  babies, 
who  had  been  abandoned  by  their  mothers  in  their  mad  at- 
tempt to  escape.  All  kinds  of  fine  clothing,  tableware  and 
other  portable  things  were  found  strewed  about  the  vicinity. 
The  Fiftieth  captured  what  horses  it  needed  and  went  in  pur- 
suit of  the  raiders,  capturing  more  horses  and  property  and 
negroes  on  the  route.  The  Federals  continued  their  way  on 
to  Street's  Ferry,  where  some  Confederates  again  attacked 
them. 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT    COl'NTY.  141 

At  Greenville,  the  Federals  spent  several  hours,  raided  bar- 
rooms, many  got  drunk,  attempted  to  destroy  the  river  bridge 
and  had  a  good  time.  There  were  other  Confederates  of  the 
Sixty-seventh  in  Black  Jaek  vicinity  when  those  of  Captain 
White's  Company  were  captured,  hut  they  left  in  a  hurry. 
It  was  said  that  Colonel  Whit  ford  ordered  a  retreat  to  Con- 
tentnea  bridge,  and  that  a  regular,  go-as-you-please  race  en- 
sued, every  man  looking  out  for  self.  Tt  is  not  known  what 
became  of  some  of  them,  as  many  never  reached  the  bridge. 


142  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-NINE. 


THE  EIGHTH — MAJOR  YELLOWLY — FORTY-FOURTH  AND 
SIXTY-SIXTH — BRISTOE  STATION — LOSSES — CAS  LAUGII- 
INGIIOUSE — DUEL  THAT  NEVER  OCCURRED — WAR  PRICES 
—CAPTURE  AT  HADDOCK'S  CROSS-ROADS — RED  BANKS  AF- 
FAIR— OTHER  EVENTS. 

The  Eighth  was  still  about  Charleston,  and  while  on  Morris 
Island  was  at  all  times  exposed  to  a  murderous  fire.  The 
Fifty-fifth  was  doing  duty  about  the  Rapidan,  in  Virginia, 
where  it  remained  until  October. 

The  first  of  August  Captain  Yellowly  was  promoted  Major 
of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  at  which  time  his  regiment  was  in 
Battery  Wagner,  where  it  remained  some  time.  The  Forty- 
fourth  was  now  in  Kirldand's  Brigade,  and  was  almost  con- 
stantly fighting  about  Petersburg.  The  Sixty-sixth  was  or- 
ganized at  Kinston  bv  combining  the  Eighth  and  Fourth  bat- 

o  •/  o  o 

talions.  Company  E  was  mostly  from  Pitt  County.  S.  S. 
Quinerly  was  Captain  and  I.  K.  Witherington,  First  Lieu- 
tenant. A.  J.  Hines  was  promoted  Captain  of  Company  Gr, 
Eighth  Regiment. 

October  14th  was  fought  the  battle  of  Bristoe  Station,  in 
which  Cooke's  Brio-ade  lost  700  men  and  Kirkland's  Brigade 

<_-  O 

lost  5GO.  The  Twenty-seventh  was  in  Cooke's,  and  lost  290 
men  out  of  41G.  The  Forty-fourth  was  cut  nearly  to  pieces, 
and  greatly  distinguished  itself.  Three  times  was  it  ordered 
to  fall  back,  yet  it  steadily  advanced,  and  only  fell  back  under 
peremptory  orders;  and  that,  too,  when  victory  was  almost 
won.  As  the  color-bearer  of  the  Twenty-seventh  fell,  Cor- 
poral J.  B.  Barrett,  one  of  the  color-guard,  caught  the  colors. 
lie  had  gone  only  a  few  steps  when  he  was  shot  down  and 
another  guard  caught  them. 

Shortly  before  this  battle,  new  clothing  had  been  distrib- 
uted among  some  of  the  companies.  As  the  Twenty-seventh 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT    COUNTY.  143 

was  falling  back  up  the  hill,  Cas  Laughinghouse,  of  Company 
K,  found  his  knapsack  in  his  way.  It  was  too  heavy.  Re- 
nienibering  that  his  new  clothes  were  in  it  he  would  nut  throw 
it  away,  so  he  deliberately  stopped  and  exchanged  his  clothes 
under  a  heavy  lire,  escaping  unharmed. 

Major  Yellowly,  of  the  Eighth,  was  now  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel of  that  regiment,  having  been  recently  promoted.  For 
what  he  considered  an  injustice,  Calhoun  Mcorc,  of  Company 
I,  Forty-fourth,  challenged  his  Captain,  I).  II.  Smith,  to  iight 
a  duel.  Captain  Smith  resigned  that  he  could  accept.  Then 
Moore  refused  to  fight.  Smith  reenlisted  as  a  private,  but 
got  a  furlough  home,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  went  to 
New  Bern  and  remained  in  the  Federal  lines  to  the  close  of 
the  war.  W.  J.  Hodges,  of  the  same  company,  acted  likewise. 
J.  R.  Roach  succeeded  Smith  as  Captain. 

Confederate  money  had  now  greatly  depreciated  and  prices 
were  skyward.  So  scarce  were  many  things  and  so  much  was 
the  depreciation  of  the  money,  that  a  gallon  of  molasses  was 
worth  $8,  one  pound  of  beef  62  1-2  cents,  one  bushel  of  corn- 
meal  $15,  one  pound  of  black  pepper  $8,  one  pound  of  cheese 
$3,  a  good  horse  $1,000,  and  so  on.  Times  were  getting 
hard.  There  was  want  in  Pitt  County  and  the  County  Court 
decided  to  issue  $40,000  in  bonds  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor. 
There  was  much  discontent  and  many  people  were  tired  of 
the  war  and  anxious  for  peace. 

November  25th  an  expedition  from  Xcw  Bern  under  Cap- 
tain Graham,  of  the  First  North  Carolina  Volunteers  (Fed- 
erals or  negroes)  with  a  number  of  regular  troops,  surrounded 
Whitford's  Battalion  near  Haddock's  cross-roads,  captured 
52,  killed  a  Lieutenant  and  four  men,  took  100  stand  of  arms, 
a  lot  of  horses,  mules,  wagons  and  a  large  amount  of  commis- 
sary stores.  The  pilot  of  this  expedition  was  one  Horn  or 
Homer,  who  was  familiar  with  the  country.  The  Eighth 
Regiment,  which  was  in  cam])  near  Wilmington,  was  now 
ordered  to  Petersburg,  but  before  going  did  duty  about  Ivin- 
ston.  It  was  then  about  Petersburg  till  1804. 


144  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

December  30th  there  was  a  fight  near  Red  Banks  Church 
and  the  church  burned.  On  one  of  their  raids  into  Pitt  from 
Washington,  the  church  at  Black  Jack  was  burned,  as  it  was 
sometimes  .used  for  shelter  by  soldiers.  The  Forty-first  and 
some  of  a  Virginia  Regiment  were  doing  duty  below  Green- 
ville. One  picket  post  was  at  Red  Banks  Church.  On  that 
night  140  Federals  attacked  that  post.  It  was  a  general  mix- 
up  fight,  hand-to-hand  fight.  The  Federals  retreated  towards 
New  Bern  and  the  Confederates  towards  Greenville.  The 
Federals  reported  their  loss  as  one  killed,  six  wounded  and  one 
missing ;  the  Confederates  as  six  killed,  one  piece  of  Starr's 
battery,  caisson  and  horses,  captured.  In  the  darkness  and 
close  quarters,  the  combatants  got  mixed  and  a  Federal  rode 
off  with  the  Confederates.  At  daybreak  Lieutenant  Slade. 
(Martin  County)  of  Company  K,  saw  he  was  not  a  Confed- 
erate, and  at  once  he  was  a  prisoner  with  the  loss  of  his 
horse  and  arms,  and  his  captor  greatly  enjoyed  his  prisoner's 
great  ''boo  hoo."  He  was  no  doubt  the  one  the  Federals  re- 
ported missing. 

The  past  year  had  been  one  of  many  reverses  for  the  Con- 
federates, though  some  brilliant  victories  had  been  won.  The 
Confederate  army  was  being  constantly  depleted,  while  re- 
cruiting was  doing  little  to  keep  the  ranks  filled.  With  the 
Federals  were  money  and  men  and  more  money  and  more 
men.  Yet  the  spirit  of  the  Confederates  was  undaunted  and 
they  fought  on  with  a  determination  to  win.  Such  was  the 
beginning  of  the  Xew  Year.  Pitt  County  was  doing  its  dutv 

o  «y  O  »' 

for  tho  field  and  at  home. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  Mi 


CIFAPTFR  TIIIKTV. 


(\)f  N  TY  !M  ATTERS SlXT  Y-SEVENTH M  OV  KM  K  N  TS  <  1 1 

OTHER  "REGIMENTS — PLYMOUTH  CAPTURED — GREAT  Yi<  - 
TORY — HEAVY  LOSSES — TAXES — THE  WILDERNESS — RE- 

MARKAKLE     FlG  IITING— Sl'OTTSYLVAN  I A GENERAL      I  )A.\- 

IEL  WOUNDED  AND  (CRIMES  IN  COMMAND — DREWRY'S 
BLUFF — CAPTAINS  JARVIS  AND  HINES  \VOUNDED — 
THOMAS  KING — JuxioRS— COLD  HARIJOR— ('ATTAIN  AN- 
DERSON KILLED. 

At  the  January,  1MI1,  meeting  of  the  county  court,  tin'' 
treasurer  reported:  receipts,  from  sale  of  bonds,  $10,000; 
from  the  State,  $.">. .">',»:>. f>0 ;  from  county  trustee,  $s,000; 
from  sale  of  land,  $1,i5;3l:  disbursements,  for  military  pur- 
poses, $10.057.1:);  balance  <»n  hand.  $r>.SS!>.0:>. 

Farlv  in  this  month  the  Sixty-seventh  Regiment  wa~  or- 
ganized. Severn!  of  ii>  coinpanio-  had  been  in  ihe  service 
some  time,  in  battalions.  Fn  the  regiment  were  Conipanio= 
D,  Captain  David  Cogsdoll.  near  half  its  men  from  Pitt:  F. 
Captain  C.  A.  White,  from  Pitt:  (i.  Captain  A.  \V.  Jones.. 
most  men  from  Pin  ;  1,  Captain  E.  !•'.  While,  fi-um  I'itt  ;  an  i 
many  men  from  Pitt  in  other  companies. 

February  1st.  the  Kiiihth  Regiment,  which  had  ju-t  arrived 
two  days  before,  was  in  the  fight  fit  Bachelor's  ('reck,  near 
]\instoii.  It  returned  to  Petersburg  on  the  .']d.  ( )n  ihe  I'd. 
the  Seventeenth  Regiment  was  in  the  attack  on  Newport. 
where  being  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  assailed  the  Federal 
columns,  poured  over  their  works  and  captured  their  guns 
and  barracks.  The  Federals  fled  to  Fort  Macon.  hut  as 
General  Piekett  failed  to  capture  Xew  Bern,  the  brigade  had 
to  withdraw  from  Newport;  thus  the  Seventeenth  lost  the  ad- 
vantages of  its  victory.  The  Twenty-seventh  left  winter 
quarters,  where  it  had  been  picketing  along  the  Rapidan  and 
was  sent  out  to  repel  a  cavalry  raid.  Such  were  the  hard- 

10 


14(5  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

ships  that  many  of  the  men  were  without  shoes  and  many 
were  the  blood-stained  tracks  they  left  in  the  snows. 

Preparations  had  been  made  for  an  attack  on  Plymouth. 
On  the  ISth  of  April  lloke's  Division,  arrived  before  Ply- 
month  and  drove  in  the  pickets.  On  the  19th  there  was  some 
skirmishing.  Xext  day,  the  20th,  the  attack  was  made  and 
before  night  the  town  with  2,000  troops,  a  lot  of  fugitive  ne- 
groes and  a  lot  of  stores  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Confederates. 
In  this  fight  the  Eighth  did  effective  work.  At  one  time  it 
charged  up  to  the  palisades  and  as  the  Federals  pulled  their 
guns  out  of  the  port  holes,  they  thrust  theirs  in  and  fired  on 
those  in  the  fort,  doing  deadly  execution.  Then  it  burst 
open  the  gates  and  captured  the  fort.  Then  it  attempted  to 
storm  another  fort,  but  had  to  retreat  with  heavy  loss.  It  had 
gained  one  great  victory,  but  it  paid  dearly  for  it.  Its  loss 
was  154  killed  and  wounded,  including  Lieutenant  D.  P. 
Langley  of  Company  G.  General  Hoke  next  attacked  New 
Bern  and  there  was  every  prospect  of  an  early  capture,  when 
he  was  ordered  to  Virginia,  where  he  arrived  just  in  time  to 
save  Petersburg  from  capture.  In  the  attack  on  Xew  Bern, 
the  Eighth  and  Sixty-seventh  were  both  engaged. 

At  the  May  meeting  of  the  County  Court,  the  tax  rate  wa*s 
made  two  and  one-half  per  cent  on  the  $100,  and  other  taxes 
levied  in  proportion.  It  was  also  decided  to  borrow  $6,000 
on  the  "pay  when  we  can  policy."  W.  G.  Lang  was  appointed 
a  special  agent  and  authorized  to  buv  500  pairs  of  cards 
and  to  borrow  money  to  pay  for  them. 

May  5th  began  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  (51,000  Con 
federates  against  118,000  Federals.  The  Forty-fourth  made 
the  opening  charge  and  lost  heavily.  The  Twenty-seventh 
suffered  severely,  its  brigade  losing  1,080  out  of  1,753  en- 
gaged. The  Fifty-fifth  had  340  men  and  was  in  the  center 
of  its  brigade,  where  in  the  course  of  three  hours  it  was  at- 
tacked seven  times  and  each  time  repulsed  the  attack.  Its 
loss  was  34  killed  and  107  wounded.  Tt  did  fearful  execution 


SKKTt.MIKS    OK     FIT  I1    COUNTY.  147 


as  157  men  lay  dead  in  its  front.  The  Third  did  much  light- 
ing with  clubbed  gnn^and  willi  bayonets,  it  heiig  a  hand  \« 
hand  tight,  each  demanding  the  surrender  of  ihc  other,  h 
captured  two  guns.  \c.\l  day  the  Fifty-tilth  was  attacked 
early,  before  ir  had  nnstacked  jirnis,  and  driven  hack,  hut  the 
arrival  of  Kershaw's  division  relieved  it  Irum  siirh  a  perilous 
poMtioii.  The  Third  was  in  the  light  all  day  and  the  Forty 
fourth,  in  foiling  Grant's  Hank  movement,  suffered  very  se 
verely.  The  Fifty-fifth  formed  the  rear  guard  to  Spott 
sylvania. 

The  Third,  Twenty-seventh,  Forty-fourth  and  Fifty-fifth 
regiments  were  in  the  Spottsylvania  tight  and  did  hard  light 
ing.  On  the  10th,  at  the  Mattapony,  the  Fifty-fifth  captured 
a  piece  of  artillery  and  drove  the  .Federals  across  the  river. 
On  the  12th,  Brigadier-General  Junins  Daniel  was  mortally 
wounded  and  Colonel  Grimes  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
brigade.  At  Drewry's  Bluff,  on  the  17th,  the  Seventeenth 
lost  175  officers  and  men.  It  was  on  the  right  of  its  brigade, 
which  occupied  the  right  of  the  division.  The  Eighth  lost 
near  100  officers  and  men  in  this  fight,  among  them  being 
Captain  T.  J.  Jarvis  of  Company  B  and  Captain  A.  J.  Ilines 
of  Company  G,  wounded.  C.  D.  Rountree.  First  Lieutenant, 
then  became  acting  captain  of  Company  G. 

After  Chancellorsville,  the  First  and  Third,  which  had  lost 
so  heavily,  were  consolidated,  and  as  such  were  at  Gaines'.- 
Mill.  June  2<1,  and  Cold  Harbor  June  3d.  The  F«.rty-f.,urtli 
was  also  at  Gaines's  Mill  and  did  much  fighting.  During 
part  of  this  fight  some  of  the  Forty-fourth  were  throwing  up 
works  for  defense.  Minnie  balls  were  flying  thick  and  fast. 
Work  was  progressing  slowly  when  Lieutenant  Thoma-  Kii  ir. 
of  Company  I),  mounted  the  works,  called  others  to  follow  and 
complete  them.  His  words  were  scarcely  ended  when  a  ball 
struck  him,  tearing  through  a  little  Testament  in  his  upper 
left  vest  pocket,  through  his  cloTb.es  and  stopping  against  his 
flesh.  Tt  struck  him  squarely  over  his  heart  and  the  Testa- 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT     COUNTY. 

ment  saved  his  life.      Jumping  back,  he  said  it  would  be  best 
to  work  as  they  had  been  doing.  » 

June  j!d  was  organized  the  Fifth  Battalion  of  Juniors,  at 
Goldsboro.  One  company  was  from  Pitt.  McD.  Boyd  was 
Captain;  Knell  Anderson,  J.  J.  Laughinghoiise  and  B.  S. 
Sheppard,  First,  Second  and  Third  Lieutenants.  There  were 
some  few  men  in  it  from  Wilson  and  Johnston  counties  and 


On  the  lands  of  .Joseph  Fleming.     Where  the   l>oy  is  standing  it  is  about  eight 


some  of  the  otlicers,  not  mentioned,  may  have  been  from  those 
counties.  It  was  composed  of  seventeen-year-old  boys.  The 
battalion  was  then  ordered  to  Weldoii. 

The  battle  oi  ('old  Harbor  was  now  being  fought,  between 
General    Lee,  with  5s, 000  and  General  Grant  with   li's.OOO. 

0 

The   Third.    Fighth,    Seventeenth,     Twenty-seventh,     Forty- 


SKK'IVHK.S    <>K     IMTT    COUNTY.  14!) 

fourth,  and  Fil'l y-tifth  regiment-,  in  each  of  which  Pitt 
County  liad  men,  were  in  thi-  battle.  The  losses  of  tin- 
Third  from  May  .'{1st  to  .June  )!d,  were  -2~~>.  The  Fi^hth  ,-uf 
tered  severelv  and  came  onl  without  an  ollicer,  ('oinpanv  (i 
losinii'  heavily.  The  Seventeenth  was  on  the  ri<;ht  and  .-up 
ported  Grniuly'si  1'allery.  In  its  t'roiit  the  dead  were  so  thick 
that  they  could  have  been  walked  upon  the  entire?  extent  of 
the  reijiment,  without  touching  ground.  Tin;  Kighteonth, 
which  was  also  thei-e  came  out  with  about  enough  men  for  a 
company.  The  Twenty-seventh  did  not  sntVer  so  much  as 
the  others.  The  Forty  fourt h  lost  heavily,  among  it  being 
L.  I{.  Anderson,  Captain  of  Company  I).  The  Fifty-iifth 
was  in  a  protected  position  and  did  deadly  work.  In  this 
battle  Colonel  Grimes'  Regiment  took  a  conspicuous  part 
and  he  had  a  horse  killed  under  him. 


150  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

CHAPTER  TIIIKTV-OKE. 


GRIMES  BRIGADIER-GENERAL — LOSSES  AROUND  PETERSBURG 
— A  GREAT  CAPTURE  BY  FLEMING,  JAMES,  CHERRY  AND 

COGGIXS REGIMENT   OF   JuXIORS DAVIS   FARM REAMS 

STATIOX — -HARD  TIMES  ix  RICHMOND — SHORT  RATIONS 
—WINCHESTER — GRIMES    IN    COMMAND    OF    DIVISION — 
OTHER    FIGHTING — PEACE    PARTY — PITT   OFFICERS    OF 
JUNIORS — FORT  FISHER. 

Brigadier-General  Juiiius  Daniel  having'  been  mortally 
wounded  on  May  12th,  Colonel  Grimes  who  had  been  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  since,  received  his  commission  as  briga- 
dier-general, on  June  5th,  though  it  dated  from  May  19th. 

On  the  17th,  the  Seventeenth  was  at  Petersburg  and  a  part 
of  the  20,000  Confederates  who  repulsed  90,000  Federals. 
OIL  the  30th  the  Eighth  was  in  the  Fort  Harrison  fight  and 
lost  heavily,  as  also  did  the  Forty-fourth.  The  Eighth  came 
out  of  the  Fort  Harrison  fight  with  only  nine  men  of  Com- 
pany G.  Out  of  ten  color  guards,  only  two  were  left  and  one 
was  G.  M.  Mooring. 

On  June  2d,  at  Cold  Harbor.,  Sergeant  R.  R.  Fleming 
and  privates  M.  A.  James,  .J.  H.  Cherry  and Cog- 
gins  were  scouting  in  some  woods.  The  woods  were  a  little 
thick  and  suddenly  they  found  themselves  very  near  a  small 
field  in  which  were  drilling  a  company  of  Federals.  It  was 
a  case  of  capture  or  be  captured,  so  Sergeant  Fleming  jumped 
from  the  woods,  yelling  to  the  others  to  follow  and  demanded 
the  surrender  of  the  Federals.  So  sudden  was  the  rush  and 
thinking  the  woods  full  of  Confederates,  they  surrendered  ai 
once,  being  panic  stricken.  The  four  Confederates  marched 
their  prey  into  the  lines  and  turned  them  over  to  their  supe- 
riors, who  never  thought  to  compliment  the  (piartette,  and 
others  were  afterward-  credited  with  most  of  the  honors  o1 
tbc  exploit.  When  the  Federals,  who  numbered  sixty-three. 
found  themselves  prisoners  in  the  bands  of  only  four  Confed- 
erates, they  were  greatly  chagrined  and  marched  into  quarters 
a  sorrv  looking  set. 


SKETCHES    OF     PITT    COt'.NTY.  151 

There  were  no  braver  or  truer  soldiers  than  many  of  those 
of  the  Twenty-seventh.  These  four  were  among  Ilie  bnivost 
and  a  little  incident-  during  a  term  of  Pitt.  County  court 
some  years  ago  is  worth  perpetuating:  Judge  .1.  A.  (lihner 
was  on  the  bench.  M.  A.  James  was  on  trial  for  MIMIC  alter 
cation  with  a  neighbor,  flu  dire  (iilmer  had  the  can*  con- 
tinned,  saying  that  knowing  ]\Ir.  .lames  as  a  soldier  that  tie 
(the  Judge)  could  not  give  him  justice,  for  no  braver  or  bet- 
ter soldier  fought  under  Lee  and  Jackson  than  M.  A.  James, 
and  he  did  not  feel  that  he  could  allow  any  fine  or  punish- 
ment against  such  a  man.  Ho  also  specially  complimented 
the  others  of  the  same  company. 

July  16th,  at  Weldon,  the  Second  and  Fifth  Battalions 
were  consolidated  and  formed  the  Seventy-first  Regiment  of 
Junior  Reserves.  During  this  month  the  Fifty-fifth  was 
transferred  to  Petersburg,  and  assigned  a  position  near  !Mal- 
vern  Hill.  While  there  many  of  the  men  heard  the  sounds 
made  by  the  Federals  digging  the  celebrated  mine,  but  did 
not  then  know  what  was  going  on  underground. 

August  ISth,  the  Fifty-fifth  lost  one-half  its  men  in  the 
charge  at  the  Davis  Farm  fight.  It  went  in  with  only  130 
men.  At  Reams'  Station  on  the  24th,  the  Twenty-seventh 
was  in  Cooke's  Brigade,  and  with  only  1,753  men,  captured 
2,100  and  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery.  The  Twenty-seventh's 
colors  were  the  first  on  the  Federal  works.  After  thi-  it 
went  into  the  trenches  for  the  defense  of  Petersburg. 

There  were  hard  times  about  Richmond  and  Petersburg. 
Everything  was  scarce  and  hard  to  get.  When  the  Seven- 
teenth was  relieved  at  Petersburg  about  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, it  had  been  reduced  from  -2.200  soldiers  to  about  TOO 
skeletons.  One  pound  of  pork  and  three  pounds  of  meal 
were  the  rations  for  three  days. 

On  the  T.Hli  at  Winchester,  the  Third  experienced  both  suc- 
cess and  defeat.  After  having  pursued  the  Federals  most 
of  the  day.  late  in  that  day  it  had  to  retreat  and  seek  cover. 
Brigadier-General  Grimes  was  conspicuous  in  thi-  tight,  lost 


152  SKETCHES    OF    1'iTT    COUNTY. 

nearly  all  his  staff,  was  wounded,  and  had  a  horse  shot  under 
him. 

In  the  month  of  October,  the  Sixty-seventh  was  on  duty  in 
the  Washington  and  Plymouth  sections.  At  Cedar  Creek, 
Major-General  Itanseur  was  killed  and  Brigadier-General 
Grimes  took  command  of  the  division.  The  Twenty-seventh 
boasted  that  during  the  summer  campaign,  not  one  man  had 
been  captured  while  in  battle,  though  thirty-five  had  been 
while  out  on  skirmish  duties.  At  Burgess's  Mill  on  the  27th, 
there  was  much  loss.  The  Fifty-fifth  was  in  the  center  of 
the  brigade.  The  Forty-fourth  was  driving  everything  in, 
when  a  flanking  movement  by  the  Federals  dealt  both  regi- 
ments severe  losses.  By  a  misunderstanding  of  orders,  they 
were  not  properly  supported  and  in  falling  back  to  their 
original  positions,  their  brigades  suffered  severely.  They 
were  soon  afterwards  returned  to  the  defenses  of  Petersburg. 

A  peace  party  had  been  growing  in  Xorth  Carolina.  Gen- 
erally, the  most  ardent  secessionists  of  1861  were  the  most 
ardent  peace  advocates.  W.  W.  Ilolden,  a  well-known  peace 
man,  had  been  the  candidate  against  Governor  Vance  for 
Governor  this  year  and  had  been  defeated.  Governor  Vance 
held  it  would  be  dishonorable  for  the  State  to  take  any  such 
action  not  in  full  accord  with  the  other  Confederate  States, 
and  did  all  in  his  power  to  keep  the  nun  at  the  front  in 
clothes  and  food. 

On  December  8th;  the  Seventy-first  (Juniors)  who  had 
been  on  dutv  in  the  vicinity  of  Tarboro,  Hamilton  and  Ply- 
mouth for  some  time,  were  ordered  to  Bellfield,  Virginia.  In 
the  meantime  there  had  been  another  company  added  and 
several  changes  otherwise.  In  Company  G  were  several  Pitt 
boys,  and  S.  V.  Laughinghouse  and  -L  F.  ('lark  were  First 
and  Second  Lieutenants;  Hugh  Murray,  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Company  A  ;  Captain  Anderson,  Company  II,  had  become 
transferred  i<>  the  regulars,  and  J.  J.  Langhinghoinse  was 
Captain.  Arriving  at  Bdltield,  they  drove  the  Federals  sev- 
eral miles  and  prevented  them  cutting  the  railroad,  for  which 


SKKTCIIKS    OK     PITT    rul'.VTY.  1  ;>:> 

the  legislature  of  North  ('arolina  »ave  them  a  -pecial  vote  of 
thanks.     They  were  soon  sent.  ft>  Goldsboro. 

It  was  now  seen  that  the  Federals  intended  an  attack  on 
Fort  Fisher,  below  Wilmington,  and  the  Fijjiili  was  sent  to 
Wilmington,  by  way  of  Danville.  The  Seventeenth  reached 
Wilmington  on  the  iMth  and  marched  to  Fort  Fi-her.  The 


<  'APT.  .1.  .1.  i.Ai'<  ;m  \<  ;n<  >rsK. 

day  before  an  attack  had  heeii  made  and  the  Federal.-  had  suc- 
ceeded in  making  a  landing.  '1  he  Seventeenth,  wa>  in  the 
tii>'ht  that  drove  them  hack  to  iheir  -hip-.  For  two  days  the 
forts  were  then  attacked  hy  hind  and  sea  hy  one  of  the  most 
powerful  fleets,  hut  had  met  a  iv-i-t;mce  from  an  inferior 
force  that  made  them  take  to  their  hoat>  and  -ail  awav.  The 
forts  and  land  forces  had  made  a  uallant  defense  and  the  Sev- 
enteenth had  nobly  performed  it-  part  of  that  duty. 


154  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-TWO. 


DEEDS  OF  DARING  BY  HARRIS  AND  BLAND — LOSSES  AND  PRO- 
MOTIONS— AROUND  PETERSBURG — FALL  OF  FORT  FISHER 
— WISE'S  FORK — SOUTHWEST  CREEK — BENTONSVILLE — 
JUNIORS — STRUGGLING  AGAINST  ODDS. 

Two  "deeds  of  daring"  during  this  attack  on  Fort  Fisher 
are  worthy  of  perpetuation  in  history.  They  were  those  of 
Taylor  Harris  and  C.  C.  Bland. 

That  General  Butler  attempted  to  destroy  the  forts  by  ex- 
ploding the  steamship  Louisiana  with  250  tons  of  powder 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  fort  is  well  known,  but  that  an- 
other powder  scheme  failed  because  the  fuse  was  extinguished 
by  a  private  soldier  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  is  not.  Another 
ship  or  barge  floating  in  to  the  shore  at  the  fort  attracted  at- 
tention. It  was  nearing  the  shore  when  three  soldiers  from 
the  fort  swam  out  to  it  to  see  what  it  could  be.  Taylor  Har- 
ris was  first  to  reach  it.  Climbing  aboard  he  found  a  lighted 
fuse  just  sputtering  in  some  scattered  powder  and  in  a  second 
or  more  it  would  be  in  the  bulk  of  powder.  Quickly  blocking 
the  way  of  the  fuse  with  both  hands  he  threw  it  overboard. 
It  was  a  dangerous  and  daring  act.  He  had  to  wade  knee 
deep  in  the  powder  to  get  to  the  fuse  and  expected  all  to  be 
blown  up  before  he  could  reach  it.  Thus  was  an  evident 
sister  attempt  to  the  Louisiana  foiled,  which,  being  much 
nearer  the  fort,  would  have  done  much  more  damage. 

On  the  24th.  the  garrison  flag  was  shot  away  from  its  staff. 
The  only  way  to  get  it  hack  was  to  climb  the  pole  and  replace 
it.  Volunteers  were  called  for.  C.  C.  Bland,  Company  K, 
Thirty-sixth  regiment  went  forward,  mounted  the  ramparts, 
seized  the  Hag  and  began  climbing  the  pole  amid  a  hail  of 
shot  and  shell.  Reaching  the  top.  he  tied  the  flag  to  the  pole 
and  began  descending.  About  half  way  down,  he  was  called 
to,  that  tho  flag  did  not  float  right.  Looking  up  he  saw  it 
was  tied  by  one  corner  only.  Climbing  up  again,  he  took 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  lf>5 

off  his  cravat  and  tied  the  other  corner  to  the  pole  jind  de- 
scended. When  some  way  down  he  was  called  to,  to  "look 
out  for  that  shell."  Looking  to  sea  he  saw  the  shell,  seem- 
ingly coming  directly  at  him.  He  clung  as  closely  as  possible 
to  the  polo  while  the  shell  went  by,  its  hreexe  fanning  his  face. 
Uo  was  missed.  ITo  was  safe.  Taking  his  place-  in  the 
ranks,  ho  forgot  the  incident  in  the  excitement  oi  the  defense. 
Later  he  was  wounded  and  lost  a  leg.  He  is  still  living,  an 
honored  citizen  and  a  worthy  minister  of  the  Primitive 
Baptists. 

The  Xe\v  Year,  1SG5,  dawned  rather  gloomy  for  the  cause 
of  the  Confederacy.  Yet  there  was  no  loss  of  xcal  for  the 
cause.  The  South  had  suffered  in  the  loss  of  thousands  ot 
its  best  and  bravest  men.  The  army  had  lost  half  of  those 
who  had  enlisted,  while  there  was  no  field  for  recruits.  The 
Xorth  had  lost  as  heavily,  but  had  the  world  for  recruiting, 
and  they  had  more  than  a  million  veterans  in  the  field.  Pin 
County  had  lost  many  of  its  best  and  noblest  sons.  Great 
changes  had  been  made  in  companies  and  their  officers.  Many 
fell  on  the  bloody  fields,  some  died  in  hospitals  and  many 
were  then  in  Northern  prisons.  Lieutenants  C.  1).  Rountree 
and  E.  A.  Move,  who  had  been  acting  Captains  of  Company 
G,  Eighth  Regiment,  after  the  wounding  of  Captain  Ilines, 
were  in  prison ;  Lieutenant  Eason  died  in  the  hospital  and 
Lieutenants  G.  W.  Parker  and  Thomas  King,  who  had  been 
acting  Captains  of  Company  D,  Forty-fourth  Regiment,  had 
been  wounded,  (Parker  losing  a  leg  and  King  being  mortally 
wounded,  dying  soon,)  and  J.  T.  Williams  had  been  pro- 
moted Captain  from  Company  E,  Twenty-seventh  Regiment ; 
Lieutenant  J.  M.  White  had  succeeded  C.  A.  White  as  Cap- 
tain of  Company  E,  Sixty-seventh  Regiment ;  Brigadier- 
General  Grimes  was  acting  Major-General  and  soon  to  be 
commissioned,  and  many  minor  officers,  lieutenants,  ser- 
geants, and  corporals,  had  met  death  with  their  faces  to 
the  enemy.  There  was  many  a  vacant  chair  and  sad  home 
in  Pitt,  and  mourning  for  loved  ones  who  would  never  re- 


SKETCHES    OF     1'ITT    COUNTY. 

turn.  But  they  were  patriots,  every  one  of  them  patriots, 
and  ready  to  make  even  greater  sacrifices.  Thus  the  war 
went  on.  But  the  end  was  drawing  nearer. 

The  year  opened  with  the  Twenty-seventh,  Forty-fourth, 
Fifty-fifth  and  some  other  regiments  doing  duty  in  the 
trenches  around  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  with  the  Eighth 
and  Seventeenth  around  Wilmington  and  vicinity,  and  some 
others  scattered  over  the  east. 

On  January  13th,  the  Federals  began  the  second  bombard- 
ment of  Fort  Fisher.  All  day  and  night  the  fight  raged  on 
the  14th  and  15th, 'when  the  Federals  captured  the  fort,  at 
10  p.  m.  Then  followed  the  next  few  weeks  some  desultory 
fighting  in  which  the  Confederates  would  fall  back  towards 
Wilmington,  and  finally  abandoned  it.  In  all  this  fighting 
the  Eighth  and  Seventeenth  were  constantly  engaged. 

At  Wise's  Fork,  near  Kinston,  March  Sth.  IToko's  Division 
met  the  Federals  ;md  after  some  hard  fighting,  captured  1.000 
prisoners  and  four  pieces  of  artillery.  The  Seventeenth. 
Sixty-seventh  and  Sixty-eighth  regiments  and  .Junior  Reserves 
were  in  this  fight.  The  Seventeenth  was  on  the  right  in  ad- 
vance and  had  the  heaviest  fighting.  At  Southwest  Creek 
next  day  the  Sixty-seventh  and  Sixty-eighth  had  some  losses 
and  were  in  the  brigade  which  captured  TOO  prisoners.  The 
Seventy-first  (Juniors)  were  in  the  center  and  drove  every- 
thing back  in  front  of  them,  fur  which  General  ][okc  person- 
ally complimented  them.  Next  day,  the  Seventeenth,  nut 
understanding  orders  made  an  assault  under  the  heaviest  fire 
ever  experienced  by  the  brigade,  reached  the  Federal  works 
and  held  them  until  ordered  to  retreat.  It  claimed  that  as 
the  unly  fight  in  which  it  was  (.\-er  repulsed.  These  regiments 
no\\-  moved  towards  Goldsboro  and  in  a  fight  \ve-t  of  that 
place,  the  division  attacked  a  furce  of  35,000  Federals,  driv- 
ing them  back  and  capturing  throe  trim-  and  HOD  prisoners. 
Tin-  was  un  the  l'.»th.  At  Ueufonville,  ilie  Seventy-first 
(Juniors)  were  in  the  thickest  ..f  the  tiuht  ;md  did  gallant 
service. 


SKK'IVMKS    OF     IMTT    COI'NTV. 


CIIAPTFR  TiriRTY-TIIRKK. 


I.KK'S     LINKS    HKOKKN     AT     PKTKKSIU'K<; — RKTKKAT — IMI- 

DK.NTS floll  NSTON      AN  I)     S HERMAN Al'I'OM ATTOX L.\ST 

ClIAHUK Sl'UKKNDKK loIINSTo.X    Sf  K  UK  NDKKS    To    SlIM:- 

MAN — PITT'S  PAIJOLK  AT  APPOAIATTOX — Mi:x   Fi  K.\ISIIKI> 
— OFFICIOUS. 

Around  Petersburg  mid  Richmond  the  end  was  approach 
ing.  April  1st  Geneva]  Sheridan  avenged  his  reverse.-  ot  the 
day  before,  and  on  the  iM,  General  Lee's  lines  around  IV 
tcrslini'ii'  \vere  broken.  On  the  Ud  the  retreat  <<>\vard<  Ap|m 
inattox  began.  On  this  retreal  the  Twenty-sevt  nth  reor<:-an- 
i/ed.  It  had  only  70  men  and  formed  I  \vo  eoinpanie-.  II. 
F.  Price,  former  Cajitain  of  ('oinpanv  II,  heeanie  Fir-t  Ser- 
geant of  one  coni[)any;  II.  \\ .  -loyiier,  Company  F.  became 
First  Lieutenant;  _Mc(.i.  l^rnnl  became  Seeoi.d  Seracant  frnm 
first  Lieutenant,  Company  F.  \<ar  Rice's  Station  the  Twen- 
ty-seventh and  Forty-eighth  regiments,  both  JIM  ninety-four 
muskets  strong,  drove  the  Federals  fnun  the  rear  <>l  tli.-  mam 
line  and  had  a  skirmish  with  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  in  which 
they  lo.-t  some  of  their  provision  -wagons.  whi<-h  made  rath'!)- 
short  that  night,  there  being  just  one  quart  nf  curn  p:-r  man. 
Fried  corn  became  a  luxury. 

At  home.  General  Johnston  was  retreating  before  Sherman. 
and  there  was  little  fighting.  The  Seventy-tir-t  Reginu  nt 
was  with  him.  On  the  6th  was  a  day  of  rest  and  parade. 
The  Seventy-first  was  the  largest  in  the  parade. 

Appomattox  was  reached  on  the  evening1  of  April  Sth,  and 
the  next  morning  General  Lee  found  his  lO.OnO  weary,  hun- 
gry and  worn-out  soldiers  with  -40,000  Federals  in  hi-  front 
and  :>."), 000  in  his  roar.  Yet  "Major-General  Grimes  did  ii"i 
want  to  surrender.  That  morning  with  his  small  divisinn  he 
had  driven  the  Federals  from  General  Lee's  front  and  opened 
the  road  to  Lynchlmrg  for  the  wagons.  To  his  >urpri<o  he 
received  orders  to  retire,  which  lie  for  some  time  refused  to 


158  SKETCHES    01'"    PITT    COUNTY. 

obey,  until  they  came  from  General  Lee.  Then  he  withdrew, 
without  any  disorder.  Once  more  the  Federals  rushed  as  if 
to  overwhelm  him,  when  Brigadier-General  Cox's  brigade  of 
his  division,  with  a  deadly  volley,  drove  them  back.  This 
was  the  last  shot  fired  at  Appomattox.  In  Cox's  Brigade  was 
the  Third  Regiment  in  which  eighty-one  men  from  Pitt 
County  went  to  the  front.  Only  four  were  paroled  at  Appo- 
mattox. General  Lee  surrendered.  The  sun  of  the  Confed- 
eracy had  gone  down. 

In  Xorth  Carolina  General  Sherman  was  in  pursuit  of 
General  Johnston,  and  on  the  isth  General  Johnston  sum  11- 
dered  near  Durham,  but  the  terms  were  not  finally  determined 
till  the  2 (5th.  AT  ay  2d,  the  Seventy-first  Regiment  ( Juniors  j 
were  paroled  and  left  for  their  homes. 

Appomattox  showed  terrible  losses  during  the  war.  Some- 
thing may  be  seen  of  them  by  seeing  the  list  of  those  paroled 
who  were  from  Pitt : 

Company  E,  Twenty-seventh,  left  home  with  112  officers 
and  men;  only  10  were  there  to  be  paroled.  II  left  with 
about  100 ;  only  4  were  there. 

Company  B,  Thirty-third,  had  20  men  from  Pitt.  Only 
5  were  there. 

In  the  Forty-fourth,  Company  C  left  with  111.  only  8  were 
there.  I)  left  with  93,  only  10  were  there.  T  left  with  114, 
only  1  was  there. 

Company  E,  Fifty-fifth,  left  with  85.  only  0  were  there. 

The  losses  in  other  companies  in  other  regiments  in  other 
fields,  were  equally  as  great.  The  loss  in  property  was 
equally  as  alarming. 

By  the  Census  of  1800  Pitt  County  had  a  male  white  popu- 
lation between  twrntv  and  sixty  years  of  age.  of  1,521. 

u  t/       t  a     /  / 

It  furnished  more  than  that  many  men  for  the  Confederate 
armies  and  military  duties.  An  incomplete  roster  shows: 

Second  Regiment  .  20  men. 

Third.  D,  01  ;  E,  1  0  ;  others  1  )  SI  men. 


SKKTCHKS    OK     1MTT    rol'NTY. 


150 


Eighth,  (G  131,  surrendered  3  men  at  Greenshuro) 

Ninth  .......... 

Tenth,  (11    1-1,  others    10) 

Seventeenth,   (15   1T>,   K    lls,  others  i>)... 

Twenty-seventh,    (F    ML',   only    four    til    I'm-   duty 
after  Sharpshurg,  Hint  Appomattox  ;  II   1()<>,  11 

at  Appoinattox)    .                                                     -  2  12  men. 

Thirty-ihird.    (  II)    .  2<J  men. 

Fortieth  .....  II  men. 

Forty-first   .........  22  men. 

Forty-fourth,   (('    111,   I)  03,   I  J>s,  others  (!)  :;(IS  men. 

Fifty-fifth,    (F)   .  ss  men. 

Sixty-first   .  I'.i  men. 

Sixty-seventh,  (D  22,  F  72,  G  40,  K  It),  others  0  )..  \(\-2  men. 

Seventy-first,   (II  1!),  others!)  —  (Junior  Reserves)  20  men 

Seventy-fifth,   (IT   IT.  I  5)...  22  men. 

Other  regiments  ..  L;.">  men. 

Others  .............  ..  ...........  27  men. 

Fifth  Battalion    ...........  <>  men. 

Eleventh  Battalion,  (  L  13,  others  8)—  21  men. 

Total  ...............  .  .............................  ......  1,376  men. 


These  do  not  include  any  enlistments  and  recruiting  and 
conscripting  for  the  fall  of  18(53,  or  later.  Pitt  must  have 
furnished  near  2,000  num. 

Strange  to  say,  the  man.  who  rose  highest  was  a  man  who 
was  in  command  of  a  regiment,  the  Fourth,  that  did  not  have 
a  Pitt  County  man  in  it.  Bryan  Grimes  entered  the  service 
as  Major  of  that  regiment,  preferring  it  to  Major  of  the 
Second  Cavalry,  or  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Eighth,  hecause 
of  his  lack  of  military  training,  and  the  superiority  of  its 
Colonel,  who  was  a  West  Point  graduate.  By  skill  and 
bravery  he  won  his  promotions  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Col- 
onel, Brigadier-General  and  Major-General. 

Other  regimental  officers  were: 


160  SKETCHES    OK     1'ITT    COUNTY. 

E.  C.  Yellowly,  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  G,  to 
Major  of  Eighth :  and  later  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Sixty- 
eighth. 

C.  J.  O'l lagan,  Assistant  Surgeon  Xinth  to  Surgeon 
Thirty-fifth. 

G.  W.  Johnson,  from  Captain  of  Tar  River  Boys  to  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel of  Seventh  Volunteers. 

J.  S.  Dancy,  Assistant  Quartermaster  Seventh  Volun- 
teers. 

G.  13.  Singeltary,  from  Captain  of  Company  11,  Twenty- 
seventh,  to  Colonel.  Later  he  was  Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
fourth. 

R.  W.  Siligellary.  from  Lieutenant  of  II,  Twenty-seventh, 
to  Captain  and  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

T.  C'.  Singelrary.  from  Major  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
Twenty-seventh. 

T)r.  Wyatt  M.  Brown,  Surgeon  Seventh  Volunteers,  t<> 
chairman  State  Board  of  Examining  Surgeons. 

J.  A.  Jackson.  Adjutant;  \V.  L.  Cherry,  Assistant  Quarter- 
master; Aliram  Cox.  Commissary;  I.).  F.  \Vhiiehead,  Com- 
mis-ary ;  Dr.  J.  X.  By  num.  Surg<on.  and  .1.  II.  Johnson. 
Major,  all  of  the  Forty-fourth. 

J.  T.  \Vhitolie;i,l.  Major  <.f  the  Fifty-fifth. 

\V.  C.  Jordan,  Assistant  Quartermaster  of  the  Sixty-sixth. 

There  were  others  \vho  held  promotions  without  commis- 
sions, among  them  being  L.  R.  Anderson.  Captain  of  Com- 
pany  D.  Forty-fourth,  who  was  in  command  of  the  regiment 
when  lie  \va<  killed. 


SKETCHES    OK     PITT    COl'NTY. 


Kil 


CHAPTER  THIRTY -KOTIi. 


"WHEELERS"    -  DUPKEE      KILLS      FEHERAL     -  AM  NEST Y— 
HOLDEN    PROVISIONAL   GOVERNOR — I  )I:I,I:<;ATI:S   r<>   (CON- 
VENTION— ACTS— WORTH    KU-:CTKI>   (  JOVKRNOR — SCHOOL 
MATTERS — WAR-TIME  Sniooi,  HOOKS      ('ruious  LESSONS. 

Following  the  surrender  <>f  (Jcnerjil   l.ce,  tlie  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln   spread    consternation   over  the   South. 


GENERAL  RHYAX  G1U.MK.- 


Four  years  of  war  and  its  evils  and  hardships  had  demoral- 
ized the  country,  and  in  the  wake  of  the  great  armies  of  Gen- 


li 


162  SKETCHES    OF    T1TT    COUNTY. 

eral  Skermaii  and  General  Johnston  were  following  a  band 
<  f  marauders.  As  those  two  great  armies  turned  from  Ben- 
tonville  northwestward,  some  of  these,  calling  themselves 
Wheeler's  Cavalry  because,  perhaps,  a  few  of  them  may 
have  at  some  time  claimed  the  honor  of  belonging  to  that 
division  of  cavalry,  in  General  Johnston's  army,  under  Gen. 
Joe  Wheeler,  invaded  some  eastern  counties.  The  Falkland 
and  Farmville  sections  suffered  from  their  raid,  many  horses, 
much  provisions  and  some  other  property  being  taken  by 
them. 

They  were  followed  by  a  similar  class  from  the  Federal 
army.  These  "blue  coats"  were  looked  upon  as  having  some 
authority,  but  the  people  could  not  submit  to  robbery.  One 
of  them  went  to  the  home  of  Thomas  Dupree,  near  Falkland, 
and  was  trying  to  get  a  horse.  Dupree  warned  him  under 
penalty  of  his  shot-gun  to  let  his  horse  alone.  The  "blue 
coat"  paid  no  heed  to  that  warning.  Dupree  drew  his  gun  ; 
the  other  his  pistol.  The  pistol  snapped,  but  the  gun  fired, 
and  the  'blue  coat'  lost  an  ear.  The  second  shot  killed  him 
on  the  spot.  Dupree  had  him  buried  where  it  was  convenient. 
A  few  days  later  others  came,  among  them  a  brother  of  the 
one  killed.  They  were  looking  for  ]\Ir.  Dupree,  who  could 
not  be  found.  They  took  the  body  of  their  dead  one  away 
with  them.  Mr.  Dupree  was  never  punished  for  defending 
his  property.  It  is  claimed  that  others  were  treated  some- 
what in  like  manner  before  such  robbery  ceased.  But  for 
some  time  yet  there  was  little  semblance  of  law  and  order  or 
protection  to  life  and  property. 

May  29th  President  Johnson  issued  his  Proclamation  of 
Amnesty,  granting  pardon,  principally,  to  the  citizens  of  the 
South  who  had'occupied  no  conspicuous  position  or  high  rank, 
in  the  war,  on  condition  that  they  take  the  prescribed  oath 
of  loyalty  to  the  Union.  W.  \V.  Ilolden  was  appointed 
Provisional  Governor  of  Xorth  Carolina.  Sonic  kind  of  a  re- 
organization of  the  State  governiiH  nt  followed,  and  an  elec- 
tion for  a  convention  to  meet  in  October  was  called.  Pitt 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT    CO  LIN  TV.  1  Gli 

sent  to  that  convention  Churchill  Perkins  and  \Y.  S.  Ifanru- 
liun.  This  convention  repudiated  secession,  the  great  deht 
caused  by  the  war,  and  also  slavery. 

The  election  held  .November  7th  resulted  in  the  election  of 
Jonathan  Worth,  Governor,  over  Provisional  Governor  llol- 
den,  by  a  vote  of  .'};>, ."ii>!>  to  ^.">;>07.  Xorth  Carolina  was 
virtually  back  in  the  Union  and  elected  John  Pool  and  \\  .  A. 
Graham,  Senators,  to  represent  it  in  the  United  States  Senate. 
Jjnt  they  were  not  "admitted.  Other  indignities  were  also 
in  store  for  its  people,  though  there  was  now  a  semblance  of 
rest  and  law. 

During  the  war  education  had  not  been  neglected  in  Pitt. 
In  most  communities  were?  to  be  found  young  ladies  who  had 
had  the  advantages  of  a  high  school  or  college  education,  and 
>uch  taught  the  neighborhood  schools,  while  the  men  were  in 
the  field.  During  the  last  year  of  the  war  many  boys  left 
these  "old  field"  schools  and  became  soldiers.  With  the  close 
of  the  war  educational  matters  again  received  attention.  In 
March,  1SG5,  the  superintendents  authorized  their  chairman, 
James  Murray,  to  collect  ''such  drafts  and  at  such  times  as  he 
may  need  the  funds/'  and  an  educational  interest  again 
awakened. 

Some  of  the  school-books  of  the  later  war  period  are  curi- 
osities to-day.  Such  a  one  is  "The  Dixie  Elementary  Speller," 
printed  on  home-made,  dingy  brown  paper,  with  a  few  an- 
tiquated cuts,  by  Mrs.  M.  !->.  Moore.  Its  reading  lessons  are 
worthy  of  notice.  Here  is  the  temperance  lesson  : 

"A  boy  must  not  drink  a  dram.  Drams  will  make  a  boy's 
tace  red.  The  boy  who  drinks  drams  is  apt  t"  make  a  <ot. 
A  sot  is  a  bad  man.  who  drinks  all  the  drams  he  can  get.  A 
sot  is  apt  to  be  bad  to  his  wife  and  babes.  Xo  one  loves  a 
man  who  gets  drunk  and  beats  his  wife  and  babes.  Girls 
must  not  fall  in  love  with  boys  who  drink  drams.  ]Jut  snmc 
girls  drink  drams  too.  For  shame !  T  hope  I  may  not 
see  so  sad  a  sight.  Xow,  if  a  sot  gets  a  wife  who  loves 
drams  they  will  both  get  drunk,  and  a  sad  pair  they  will 


164  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

be."  This  is  a  lesson  of  patriotism :  ''This  sad  war  is  a 
bad  thing.  My  papa  went  and  died  in  the  army.  My  big 
brother  went  too,  and  he  got  shot.  A  bombshell  took  his 
head  off.  My  aunt  had  three  sons  and  all  have  died  in 
the  army.  jSTow  she  and  the  girls  have  to  work  for  bread. 
I  will  work  for  mamma  and  sisters.  But  if  I 

were  a  man  and  the  law  said  I  must  go  to  war  I  would  not 
run  away  like  some  do.  *  *  *  I  would  sooner  die  at  my 
post  than  desert.  And  if  my  papa  had  run  away,  and  been 
shot  for  it,  how  sad  I  must  have  felt  all  my  life." 

"The  Geographical  Reader  for  the  Dixie  Children"  is  in- 
teresting. It  treats  of  America  only,  with  the  Confederate 
States  as  the  principal  country.  After  the  usual  introduc- 
tory of  latitude,  longitude,  zones,  races,  etc.,  it  proceeds  to  ?i 
description  of  countries.  After  scoring  the  ]STorth  on  slavery, 
it  proceeds:  "In  the  year  1SGO  the  abolitionists  became 
strong  enough  to  elect  one  of  their  men  for  President.  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  a  weak  man,  and  the  South  believed  he 
would  allow  laws  to  be  made  which  would  deprive  them  of 
their  rights.  So  the  Southern  States  seceded.  * 
Thousands  of  lives  have  been  lost,  and  the  earth  drenched 
with  blood ;  but  still  Abraham  has  been  unable  to  conquer  the 
'Rebels'  as  he  calls  the  South." 


SKKTCIIKS  OF  PITT  COUNTY.  1G5 


(MI APTK R  Till KT Y-FI V K 


WAR-TIME    SCHOOL    BOOKS — GEOGRAPHICAL    READER    FOR 
DIXIK     CHILDREN — DESCRIPTION     OF     THE     STATE — ITS 
PEOPLE — PATRIOTIC  —  SOUTH     CAROLINA  -  -  REVIEW- 
QUESTIONS      AND      ANSWERS — CONFEDERATE      PROWESS 
TAUGHT. 

Of  the  Southern  Confederacy  this  "Geographical  Reader 
for  Dixie  Children,"  says,  in  part:  ''This  is  a  great  country. 
The  Yankees  thought  to  starve  us  out  when  they  sent  their 
ships  to  our  seaport  towns.  But  we  have  learned  to  make 
many  things,  and  to  do  without  many  others,  and  above  all 
to  trust  in  the  smiles  of  the  God  of  battles.  We  had  few 
guns,  little  ammunition,  and  not  much  of  anything  but  food, 
cotton  and  tobacco ;  but  the  people  helped  themselves  and  God 
helped  the  people.  We  were  considered  an  indolent,  weak 
people,  but  our  enemies  have  found  us  strong,  because  we 
have  justice  on  our  side. 

"The  Southern  Confederacy  is  at  present  a  sad  country; 
but  President  Davis  is  a  good  and  wise  man,  and  many  of 
the  generals  and  other  officers  in  the  army  are  pious.  Then 
there  are  many  good,  praying  people  in  the  land;  so  we  may 
hope  that  our  cause  will  prosper.  'When  the  righteous  are 
in  authority,  the  nation  rejoiceth ;  but  when  the  wicked  bear 
rule  the  nation  niourneth.'  Then  remember,  little  boys, 
when  you  are  men,  never  to  vote  for  a  bad  man  to  govern  the 
country." 

Its  map  of  Xorth  Carolina  and  South  Carolina  gives  very 
little  information.  Tar  River  is  put  down  as  ''Taw''  River. 
Xeither  Greenville.  Tarboro,  Washington,  Wilson,  nor  Wil- 
liamston  appear.  Ivinston  is  spelled  "Kingston".  The  fol- 
lowing are  extracts  from  what  it  says  of  the  State:  ''South 
of  Virginia,  we  find  another  large  State,  called  Xorth  Caro- 
lina. "x"  *  The  soil  of  about  half  the  State  is  good, 
but  much  of  the  other  is  ?o  thin  that  those  who  live  on  it  are 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

very  poor.  The  swamp  lands  in  the  east  are  very  fertile. 
The  west  is  suited  to  grazing — we  mean  by  this,  grass  grows 
well,  and  cattle  are  easily  raised.  *  *  *  Newborn  was 
a  pleasant  town,  but  the  enemy  have  spoiled  it,  and  driven 
away  the  people.  The  city  of  Raleigh,  near  the 

middle  of  the  State,  is  the  capital.  This  is  often  called  'The 
City  of  Oaks.' 

"The  people  of  this  State  are  noted  for  their  honesty,  and 
for  being  'slow  but  sure.'  Xo  braver  men  fought  in  the  war 
for  independence  than  those  from  Xorth  Carolina.  While 
some  few  cowards  refused  to  fight  for  their  country,  it  is  a 
notable  fact,  that  nearly  all  of  them,  were  of  the  ignorant 
class,  and  many  of  them  did  not  know  what  patriotism  was. 
We  should  feel  as  much  pity  for  them  as  contempt,  because 
they  had  not  been  properly  taught. 

"Education  was  much  neglected  in  the  Old  Xorth  State, 
until  within  a  few  years  past.  She  now  has  as  many  good 
schools  and  colleges  as  any  sister  State.  Good  people  are 
now  building  up  schools  to  educate  the  children  of  poor  sol- 
diers who  are  killed  in  the  war.  Nearly  every  child  can  get 
an  education  here  if  he  will  be  industrious.  Who  will  be 
ignorant  ?" 

Of  South  Carolina  it  says:  ''This  was  the  first  to  secede. 
Many  persons  blamed  the  South  Carolinians  for  leaving  the 
Union  too  soon;  but  it  may  have  been  best;  it  is  impossible 
for  us  to  decide.  The  war  would  have  come,  sooner  or  later. 
God  usually  punishes  wicked  nations  by  war.  I  mean  by 
this  that  when  people  become  too  wicked  He  gives  them  over 
to  hardness  of  heart  to  work  out  their  own  punishment,  and 
sometimes  destruction.  How  much  better  for  all  to  be  good." 

The  "Second  Part"  is  a  "Review"  with  questions  and  an- 
swers. After  many  of  the  usual  common  geography  ques- 
tions are  found  others,  of  which  the  following  are  specimens: 

If  the  people  of  ihe  United  States  had  always  elected  good 
men  for  rulers  what  would  have  been  the  result  ? 


SKF.TC  II  K.->    OF     PITT    (OI'.N'IV.  1  <57 

A.    \Vc«  should  have  had  no  war. 

(,).    Why? 

A.  Because  every  man  would  have  been  willing  io  treat 
others  justly,  and  there  would  have  heen  no  cau.-e  f«.r  war. 

Q.    Arc  these  judgments  for  our  sins  alone  '. 

A.  Thev  arc  partly  for  our  sins  and  partly  for  the  -ins  of 
our  forefathers. 

Q.  Then  how  shall  we  expect  peace,  since  sin  has  brought 
war  ? 

A.  We  must  repent  of  our  sins,  and  ask  God  to  ble<.-  our 
efforts  to  defend  our  country. 

Q.    Why? 

A.   Because  if  God  be  for  us  who  shall  be  against  us  '. 

Perhaps  the  ''War  Time"  arithmetic  was  the  queerest  book 
of  all  when  the  nature  of  its  examples  is  considered.  They 
were  patriotic  and  intended  to  show  the  superiority  of  the 
Confederate  soldier  in  battle  and  inspire  the  learner  with 
enthusiasm  and  pride  for  his  countrymen.  Amonir  them 
such  as  the  following  were  common : 

"If  twelve  Confederates  kill  sixteen  Yankees  and  the  Yan- 
kees kill  three  Confederates,  how  many  were  killed  in  all  ?" 
"If  a  squad  of  twenty-three  Confederates  capture  forty-nine 
Yankees  and  another  squad  of  thirty-eight  Confederates  cap- 
ture sixty-seven  Yankees,  how7  many  Yankees  did  both  squads 
capture  ?" 

"If  nine  Confederates  attack  twenty-five  Yankees  and  kill 
seventeen  of  them,,  how  many  of  the  Yankees  were  not 
killed  ?" 

"If  one  Confederate  can  whip  three  Yankee-.  hnw  many 
Yankees  can  eleven  Confederates  whip?'' 

"If  one  Confederate  can  guard  seven  Yankee  prisoners, 
how  many  Confederates  will  it  take  to  guard  eighty-four 
Yankee  prisoners  ?" 

"If  two  companies  of  Confederates  can  whip  six  companies 
of  Yankees,  how  many  companies  of  Confederates  will  it  take 
to  whip  thirty-six  companies  of  Yankees?" 


168  SKETCHES   OF    PITT   COUNTY. 

Such  examples  and  teachings  filled  the  boys'  hearts  with 
patriotic  pride  and  made  that  longing  to  emulate  the  prowess 
of  their  countrymen  in  battle,  which  rushed  many  a  school- 
boy to  the  army,  and  too  often  to  an  unknown  grave  in  a 
strange  land. 


SKETCHES   OF    I'ITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-SIX. 


CARPETBAGGERS — LEG ISLATI: R E  < > F  1 80(5 — PENSIONS — T H IR- 
TEENTII  AMENDMENT  —  RECONSTRUCTION  —  MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT — COTTON  PLANTER — EDUCATION — WII.LIS 
BRILEY  MURDERED — Two  OF  THE  MURDERERS  HANGED 
—NEGRO  MILITIA — LAFLIN  AND  RICH — MISGUIDED  MIS- 
SIONARIES. 

With  the  new  government  in  force,  there  was  some  pros- 
pects of  better  times,  but  considering  the  South  their  legiti- 
mate prey,  carpet-baggers  and  other  adventurers  began  corn- 


\\ILLIS  KOHKRT  WILLIAMS. 

ing.  At  first  their  influence  was  little  felt,  but  it  was  later 
to  become  worse  than  a  nightmare.  Pitt  was  receiving  them. 
In  the  legislature  of  18(56,  were  Churchill  Perkins,  in  the 
Senate,  and  W.  R.  Williams  and  John  Galloway,  in  the 
House.  It  is  a  fact  not  to  be  forgotten,  that  in  this  legisla- 
ture W.  R.  William?  introduced  a  bill  to  pension  the  Xorth 


I 

170  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

Carolina  Confederate  soldiers.  The  bill,  however  failed  to 
pass.  It  was  the  first  effort  of  its  kind  in  the  South. 

The  Thirteenth  Amendment  had  been  ratified  by  all  the 
Southern  States  except^  Texas,  but  the  Fourteenth  was  re- 
jected by  several  and  early  in  1S6T  the  woes  of  the  conqueror 
began  to  be  visited  upon  the  South.  Congress,  over  Presi- 
dent Johnson's  veto,  passed  a  bill  for  "reconstructing"  the 
South.  By  it  our  State  government  was  abolished  and  a  mil- 
itary government  established,  with  General  Canby  at  its  head. 
In  October  an  election  was  held  for  members  of  a  convention. 
Under  General  Canby's  orders  and  the  Fourteenth  Amend- 
ment, many  of  the  best  white  people  were  disfranchised  and 
the  negroes  allowed  to  vote.  Under  this  government  Pitt 

o  o 

sent  to  that  convention  Byron  Laflin  and  D.  J.  Rich,  two 
carpet-baggers. 

Even  under  these  conditions  Pitt  was  progressing.  In 
July  of  1867  a  patent  for  a  cotton-planter  was  granted  Capt. 
Bryant  Smith,  of  Falkland  Township.  It  was  a  revolution 
in  cotton  planting. 

This  cotton-planter  was  a  great  invention,  and  revolution- 
ized cotton  planting  in  Captain  Smith's  section.  Several 
years  later  J.  C.  Cox  secured  patents  for  some  improvements 
and  in  a  few  years  the  Cox  planter  was  sold  over  the  entire 
South. 

The  superintendents  of  education  met  in  September.  It 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  meeting  since  March,  IS 05.  The 
members  were  James  Murray,  chairman ;  Jesse  Cobles, 
Henry  Stancill,  W.  R.  Williams,  John  Daniel,  Caleb  Cannon, 
and  James  W.  May.  The  chairman's  bond  was  fixed  at 
$100.  There  were  thirty-nine  districts  and  the  committees 
were  appointed. 

The  presence  of  many  carpet-baggers,  and  their  fondness 
for  the  negro,  and  their  exaltation  of  him.  had  bad  effect  on 
the  negroes.  They  were  making  themselves  odious  to  the 
white  people  and  were  also  becoming  common  criminals. 


8KKTCI1  KS    <•!•     IMTT    (ol.N'lV.  Ill 

Such  must  in  part  account  for  the  murder  of  Willis  Drihy 
on  tho  night  of  December  I'.'jd,  IS  (IT. 

On  that  night  a  lot  of  negroes  went  fir>t  to  tlie  home  of  Wil- 
liam McArthur,  near  Dal  lard's  Cross-Roads,  went  into  tin- 
house  and  took  him  prisoner.  While  they  were  pillaging  the 
house  ho  escaped.  Without  doing  harm  to  the  family  or 
taking  anything  they  left  and  went  to  Willis  Driley's,  at  the 
Cross-Roads.  There  they  went  in.  made  him  a  prisoner,  and 


NORTH  CAUOHXA'S  FIRST  NKCHO  JUROR 
(Sketched  by  the  late  .Judfti-  \V.  H.  Rodman,  when  holding  tlie  August  1SG7, 


proceeded  to  pillage  the  house.  During  this  he  escaped,  being 
shot  at.  Later  he  was  found  under  his  buggy  shelter,  where 
he  was  shot,  dying  instantly.  In  the  meantime  Me  Arthur 
had  gone  to  a  neighbor's,  got  a  gun  and  returned.  Finding 
the  negroes  at  Briley's,  he  tired  on  them,  when  they  ran,  leav- 
ing a  lot  of  things  they  were  preparing  to  take  away.  Their 
object  was  robbery,  as  it  was  thought  that  McArthur  and 
"Brilcv  had  much  money. 


172  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

Richard  Jackson,  Xeedham  Evans,  Toney  Kittrell  and 
John  Miller,  were  soon  thereafter  arrested,  charged  with  be- 
ing of  the  party  that  did  the  murder.  Governor  Worth  or- 
dered a  special  term  of  court  for  their  trial  January  4th, 
Monday,  1868.  Judge  E.  J.  Warren  presided.  True  bills 
were  found  against  them  and  also  Curtis  Cogsdell  and  Ned 
Blount,  Curtis  for  the  murder  and  the  others  for  aiding  and 
abetting.  Curtis  and  Xed  were  never  caught.  Miller  turned 
State's  evidence  and  got  twelve  months  in  jail  for  robbery. 
Toney  was  not  convicted.  Richard  Jackson  and  Needham 
Evans  were  convicted  and  hanged  February  14th.  Some 
years  later  John  Miller  was  found  hanging  by  his  neck  from 
the  Snow  Hill  Bridge. 

1868  saw  many  changes  for  the  worse.  New  laws  were 
made  that  changed  many  old  customs.  All  able-bodied  men 
between  the  ages  of  twenty-one  and  forty  years  were  liable  to 
military  duty,  and  under  this  law  a  negro  militia  was  organ- 
nzed.  H.  L.  Smith  was  colonel  of  the  Pitt  militia.  Byron 
Laflin  was  aide  to  Governor  Holden  with  the  title  of  Colonel. 
In  the  legislature  were  1).  J.  Rich,  in  the  Senate,  and  Byron 
Laflin  and  Richard  Short  in  the  House.  Dr.  C.  J.  O'Hagan, 
Democrat,  was  beaten  for  Congress  this  year  by  Joseph 
Dixon,  Republican,  of  Greene  County,  by  a  vote  of  12,333  to 
14,076. 

The  years  1SGS-9  were  years  of  corruption  and  plundering 
of  the  State's  treasury.  The  '"Report  of  the  Fraud  Commis- 
sion''' reveals  that  all  parties  had  a  hand  in  the  plundering, 
but  the  carpet-baggers  stole  everything  they  could.  General 
Estes  admitted  that  he  paid  Deweese  $2.500  to  be  divided  be- 
tween Deweese  and  Laflin,  for  securing  Laflin's  vote  and  in- 
fluence on  a  bill  providing  for  the  issue  of  $1,000,000  of 
bonds  to  the  Wilmington,  Charlotte  and  Rutherford  Railroad. 
Lailin  was  one  of  Pitt's  carpet-bagger  members.  There  were 
many  negroes  in  these  legislatures  and  many  sold  out,  with 
their  carpet-bagger  friends,  on  all  occasions. 

The   enfranchised  negroes  were   everywhere   feeling  their 


SKETCH  KS   OF    1'ITT    COl'NTY.  173 

importance  and,  aided  and  abetted  by  their  new  friends,  were 
giving  much  trouble.  On  all  occasions  of  big  gatherings  they 
were  conspicuous  and  often  insulting,  ('lashes  and  fights 
were  not  as  frequent  as  they  might,  have  been,  the  forbearance 
of  the  whites  preventing  such  when  possible.  Negro  oliicers 
and  soldiers  were  thick  over  the  country,  and  justice  was  M 
farce.  Many  of  the  citizens  were  frequently  charged  with 
some  offense  and  had  to  go  before  such  courts  for  trial.  No 
people  ever  submitted  to  more  and  worse  government  than 
did  many  of  the  Southern  States,  some  counties  of  North 
Carolina  and  sometimes  in  Pitt.  Among  those  who  did  per- 
haps the  most  harm  were  those  so-called  missionaries,  male 
and  female  Northerners,  who  taught  the  negroes  that  they 
were  the  equals  in  every  respect  of  their  former  masters. 
Their  motives  miffht  have  been  better  than  the  results. 


174  SKETCHES     OF    PITT     COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  THIRT Y-S E VEX. 


RIDDICK  CARNEY — ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE — FEDERAL  LIEU- 
TENANT KILLED — SECOND  ATTEMPT  TO  CAPTURE — 
MAJOR  LYMAN  AND  XEGRO  MILITIA — Two  NEGROES 
KILLED — BOTH  CARNEYS  DIE — HORRIIJLE  TRAGEDY — Ku 
KLUX — XEGRO  OFFICERS — SPECIMENS. 

Like  Jefferson  Davis,  some  men  wore  never  reconstructed, 
and  yet,  unlike  him,  died  with  their  boots  on.  Such  a  man 
was  Riddick  Carney,  who  lived  about  eight  miles  northeast 
of  Greenville,  just  across  Griudle  Creek.  His  oldest  son, 
James  II.  Carney,  was  killed  in  the  war.  This  was  his  favor- 
ite son  and  the  loss  seemed  to  have  had  great  effect  upon  him, 
embittering  him  against  all  Federals  and  their  authority.  He 
was  charged  with  defying  the  new  order  of  things  and  cruelty 
to  negroes.  For  a  long  time  the  Federal  authorities  could  not 
arrest  him. 

Some  time  early  in  LSG6  a  Federal  lieutenant,  with  a 
squad  of  soldiers,  from  Washington,  went  out  one  night  to 
arrest  him  and  some  others  implicated  with  him.  Arriving 
there,  the  house  was  surrounded  and  then  entered.  Only  the 
women  folks  were  found.  They  insisted  that  the  soldiers 
should  not  go  upstairs.  The  lieutenant  took  a  torch  from  the 
fireplace, and  started  upstairs.  He  was  met  by  a  load  of  buck- 
shot and  fell  back  mortally  wounded.  With  Carney  upstairs 
at  this  time  were  Enoch  Moore,  a  neighbor,  and  J.  T.  Txen- 
frow.  recently  from  Georgia,  and  one  or  two  others,  all  of 
whom  were  wanted  by  the  Federals.  Xo  other  attempt  was 
made  to  go  upstairs  or  c'et  those  up  there,  but  taking  their 
leader,  the  soldiers  started  for  Washington.  The  lieutenant 
died  at  Paetolus,  after  having  his  wound  dressed.  His  whole 
right  In-east  was  <hot  away.  The  soldiers  returned  to  Wash- 
ington with  their  leader  a  corpse. 

On  one  occasion  some  Federal  officers  from  Washington, 
on  their  way  to  arre-t  Carney,  slopped  at  Paetolus  and  told 


SKKTCHKS    OK    I'ITT    <<tl   V1Y.  1  <  ,j 

their  business.  Church  Perkins,  a  wealthy  and  prominent 
citi/.en,  requested  the  ollicers  to  get  suji|ier  with  him  on  their 
return.  They  accepted  the  invitation  and  went -on  after  Cur- 
ney.  This  lime  Carney,  Renfrew  and  Mooi-e  were  arrested. 
Returning,  tho  officers,  with  their  pri-oi;rrs.  stopped  at  Per- 
kins' for  supper.  .lust  before  going  out  to  supper,  all  again 
partook  of  liquid  refreshments,  wliieli  had  heen  served  freely. 
The  officers  were -f eel ing  good,  lonk  another  drink  and  walked 
out  for  the  dining  room,  as  ('arney  and  the  others  were  tak- 
ing1 theirs.  Arriving  at  the  tal>le,  Carney  and  the  other  pris- 
oners did  not  show  up.  Returning  to  the  parlor,  the  otlicers 
found  an  open  window,  hut  no  ('arney,  Renfrew  and  Moore. 
They  had  escaped,  and  the  officers  had  supper  without  them 
and  also  returned  to  Washington  without  them. 

Tt  was  some  time  hefore  another  attempt  was  made  to  ar- 
rest Carney.  Information  being  had  that  Carney  was  at 
home,  the  next  attempt  was  made  on  the  night  before  tho 
fourth  Sunday  (2fitlO  of  April,  ISfiS.  Major  T/vnum  had 
been  superintending  the  Pitt  election,  with  his  negro  militia. 
and  determined  to  take  the  Carneys  before  returning  to  Gold-- 
boro.  Major  Lyman.  with  ten  negro  militia  and  Sheriff 
Foley.  went  out  a  short  time  before  day  on  the  night  men- 
tioned. After  surrounding  the  house,  their  presence  was 
made  known  and  Carney  ordered  to  come  out  and  surrender. 
In  the  house  at  this  time  were  Carney,  his  wife,  his  son 
George,  his  son-in-law.  Alonzo  Whitehurst  and  his  (AYhite- 
hnrst's)  wife.  Another  daughter.  Mary,  and  her  governess, 
were  away,  vi.-itiiiii1  in  the  neighborhood.  George  wanted  his 
father  to  ivive  up.  but  be  said  he  would  die  first.  Whitehurst 
reported  that  ('arney  was  not  there. 

The  house  was  then  attacked  and  broken  into.  Major 
Lyman  repeated  the  experiment  of  the  lieutenant  on  the  for- 
mer occasion,  tried  to  go  upstairs,  and  was  badly  wounded  in 
bis  left  arm.  The  house  was  now  set  afire  all  around. 
George  came  downstairs  to  find  a  negro  -oldier  in  tin-  parlor 


176 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


and  shot  him  dead.  Another  negro  soldier,  standing  in  the 
door,  raised  his  gun  and  shot  George.  George  shot  him  at 
the  same  time  and  both  fell  dead.  George  fell  in  the  fire 
and  his  body  was  right  much  burned  before  his  sister  was 
allowed  or  helped  to  drag  it  away.  Whitehurst,  who  had 
taken  no  part  in  the  fight,  was  badly  wounded  twice.  He 
was  gotten  from  the  house,  which  soon  burned  down,  the 
women  bavins;  been  allowed  to  come  out  some  time  before. 


ONE  OF  THE  FIRST  TOBACCO  BARXS  IX  PITT  COUXTY. 

The  last  seen  of  Carney  alive  was  at  an  upper  window,  where 
ho  was  apparently  trying  to  get  a  shot  at  his  besiegers. 

There  are  so  many  conflicting  tales  of  that  fearful  tragedy 
that  the  facts  will  never  be  known.  Among  the  many  state- 
ments are  that  Riddick  Carney  killed  a  negro,  shooting  from 
a  window  upstairs — that  the  shot  that  wounded  Major  Lyman 
also  killed  a  negro  who  was  behind  him — that  George  Car- 


SKKTC11KS   OF    1'ITT    (  OCNTY.  1,77 

ney  killed  one  negro  and  was  shot  while  in  tin-  act  «(  jump- 
ing out  of  doors,  by  the  negroes  outside,  ete. 

The  house  was  a  complete  loss,  with  all  its  contents,  noth- 
ing being  saved  except  the  clothes  those;  who  escaped  wore  at 
the  time. 

Major  Lyman,  with  his  surviving  negro  militia  and  Sheriff 
Foley,  returned  to  Greenville  that  bright  Sunday  morning, 
bringing  his  two  dead  negro  militiamen  and  Whitehurst  and 
his  wife.  Whitehurst  was  left  with  the  people  of  Green- 
ville, who  attended  to  his  needs  and  wants,  and  hi>  wife 
nursed  him  to  recovery.  Xo  inquest  was  held  over  the  Car- 
neys,  and  no  other  legal  proceedings  were  ever  had  in  the 
matter,  and  it  all  became  a  thing  of  the  past,  though  not  for- 
gotten. It  is  said  that  Major  Lyman  died  soon  thereafter 
of  his  wounds. 

The  Ku  Klux  Klan  had  spread  to  eastern  North  Carolina 
at  this  time  and  there  was  an  organization  in  Pitt  County. 
There  were  a  number  in  the  Carney  neighborhood,  and  but  for 
being  slow  in  receiving  notice  of  Major  Lyman's  visit,  they 
would  have  wiped  out  his  whole  crowd.  The  leader  in 
Greenville  found  out  that  the  attempt  would  be  made  to  ar- 
rest Carney,  and  sent  out  notice  to  those  of  that  section,  but 
the  messengers  were  too  late,  as  at  the  same  time  they  were 
giving  the  notice  to  protect  the  Carneys,  the  news  of  the 
awful  tragedy  was  heard.  Major  Lyman  was  perhaps 
already  on  his  way  there  when  the  leader  heard  of  it.  Under 
a  big  persimmon  tree,  about  a  hundred  yards  east  of  the  road, 
less  than  half  a  mile  from  the  Carney  place,  on  the  south 
side  of  Grindle  Creek,  the  members  of  the  Ku  Klux  Klan  of 
that  section  took  that  iron-clad  oath?  which,  but  for  the  lack  of 
little  more  time,  would  have  made  a  different  tale  of  the 
Lyman-Carney  tragedy. 

This  and  a  few  succeeding  years  were  years  of  negro  office- 
holders. There  were  ne^ro  Justices  of  the  Peace,  nesro  con- 

o  /  a 

stables,  negro  tax-listers  and  various  offices  filled  with  negroes. 
12 


178  SKETCHES.  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

But  the  carpet-baggers  generally  reserved  those  that  paid  best 
for  themselves. 

Xegro  justice  was  rather  strange  and  often  amusing.  Two 
illustrations  will  be  interesting:  Dennis  Atkinson  was  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  duly  elected  at  the  polls,  by  a  majority 
of  those  voting.  He  had  many  cases.  Among  them  he  had  a 
white  man  up  for  whipping  a  negro.  A  big  crowd  was 
always  on  hand,  though  such  fights  were  not  uncommon. 
After  hearing  the  evidence,  he  gave  his  judgment  that  the 
white  man  should  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  dollars  and  costs,  sup- 
plementing the  judgment  with  a  wink  at  the  white  man  that 
was  not  misunderstood.  Court  was  promptly  dismissed  and 
the  white  man  called  back.  Atkinson  then  told  the  white 
man  that  he  need  not  pay  the  fine  or  costs,  that  he  had  to  do 
that  way  to  fool  the  negroes.  And  the  cost  and  fine  were 
never  paid. 

Chance  Bernard  was  a  negro  constable.  Thinking  the 
dignity  of  his  office  demanded  that  in  executing  papers  he 
should  carry  some  weapon,  and  being  unable  to  get  anything 
else,  when  he  went  out  to  serve  a  warrant,  he  armed  himself 
with  his  grubbing-hoe.  And  thus  he  upheld  the  dignity  of 
his  office. 

Another  negro,  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  went  to  the 
proper  officer  to  take  the  prescribed  oath,  stating  that  he 
wanted  him  to  ''qualify"  him.  He  was  told  that  he  could  be 
sworn  in,  but  that  "all  h — 1  couldn't  qualify"  him. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY.  17(J 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-EIGHT. 


NINTH  CENSUS — THINGS  IMPROVING  --CONVENTION  OF 
1875 — DELEGATES — VANCE  AND  JAUVIS  ELECTED — JAK- 
vis  BECOMES  GOVEKNOU — NEWSPAPERS — JAHVIS  ELECTED 
GOVERNOR — LATHAM  ELECTED  TO  CONGRESS — GE.NEKAL 
GRIMES  ASSASSINATED — A  LYNCHING. 

The  year  1SG9  saw  carpet-bag  rule  in  its  full  dory,  and  Pitt 
County  felt  its  curse.  But  it  was  working  out  its  own  salva- 
tion, the  people  adapting  themselves  to  existing  conditions  as 
best  they  could.  The  County  was  growing  in  population  and 
the  soil  was  rewarding  its  tillers  with  plenty.  Though 
harassed  by  many  reconstruction  ills  and  evils,  yet  they  did 
not  suffer  persecution  and  prosecution  like  some  of  the  cen- 
tral and  western  counties.  The  Fourteenth  Amendment  had 
been  forced  upon  the  South  and  now  the  Fifteenth  was  pro- 
posed. As  it  only  gave  the  negroes  the  rights  that  a  military 
government  had  already  given  them,  it  was  speedily  rat i lied, 
and  the  negro  became  a  constitutional  voter,  which  only 
added  to  his  woes. 

The  Census  of  1870  gave  Pitt  a  population  of  17,270.  as 
follows : 

Toir-nxhi/).  White.         Colored.          Toinl. 


]>L'lvoir   

1,178 

973 

2,151 

California   

1,582 

2,044 

3,020 

Chicod   

939 

744 

1,083 

Contentnea   

1.413 

705 

2,118 

Greenville  

1,S°8 

2,010 

3,838 

Pactolus   

911 

1,149 

2,000 

Swift  Creek   

1,011 

789 

1,800 

Total S,Sti2  8,414  17, '27(1 

Greenville  lost  heavily  of  its  population  as  compared  with 
that  of  1800.     It  was  now  only  001,  a  loss  of  227  in  ten 

NOTE. — Before  the  next  census  California  was  divided   into   Falkland 
and  Farniville  townships. 


180 


SKETCHES    OF   PITT    COUNTY. 


year^.     There  was  yet  no  other  incorporated   town  in  the 
County. 

Military  domination  still  existed  and  the  rumblings  of  a 
threatened  volcanic  outburst,  though  still  heard,  were  grow- 
ing less  ominous.  The  white  people  were  slowly  regaining 
their  power,  and  the  hopes,  so  brightened  in  the  expectation 
of  the  election  of  Horatio  Seymour,  as  President,  in  1868, 
were  revived  in  the  nomination  of  Horace  Greeley,  in  1872. 
Greeley  had  been  one  of  the  bondsmen  of  Jefferson  Davis  and 


COL.  w.  M.  KING. 

had  thus  made  strong  friends  of  the  Southern  people.  His 
defeat  was  another  blow  that  increased  the  determination  of 
the  people  to  reconstruct  themselves  and  conditions.  It  was 
a  peace  plan  and  its  first  victory  was  the  calling  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  of  1875.  Pitt  County  sent  to  that 
Convention  W.  M.  King  and  T.  J.  Jarvis.  King  had  been 
prominent  in  local  affairs  and  held  several  minor  offices, 
among  them  that  of  County  Commissioner.  Jarvis  had  come 
to  Pitt  from  Tyrrell  Countv.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the 


SKKTCIIKS    OF    PITT    roi'NTV.  l&l 

Confederate  Army,  having  been  Captain  of  Company  B, 
Eighth  Regiment;  had  represented  Currituck  in  the  Con- 
vention of  1S(>5;  liad  been  a  member  (if  the  House  from  Tyr- 
rell in  1868,  1870  and  1872,  being  Speaker  at  tin-  latter 
term. 

Louis  Ililliard,  formerly  of  Xash,  living  at  Greenville, 
was  elected  a  Superior  Court  Judge  in  IS 74,  but  on  a  con- 
test, W.  A.  Moore  was  declared  still  Judge.  Ililliard  held 
several  courts. 

The  campaign  of  1*76  was  a  notable  one.  That  year  T.  J. 
Jarvis  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Lieutenant  Gover- 
nor, on  the  ticket  headed  by  Z.  B.  Vance,  and  with  the  whole 
ticket  was  elected.  The  Legislature  of  January,  1879, 
elected  Governor  Vance  to  the  United  States  Senate  and  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  Jarvis  became  Governor. 

During  the  past  few  years  there  had  been  many  newspaper 
ventures  in  Greenville.  The  ti.i-j>resx,  established  by  L. 
Thomas  and  Company,  in  1^77,  and  bought  in  February  of 
the  next  year  by  J.  K.  and  1).  J.  Whiehard,  was  the  only  one 
so  far  with  prospects  of  long  life. 

In  1880  Governor  Jarvis  was  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  Governor,  and  elected.  L.  C.  Latham  was  the  Democratic 
candidate  for  Congress  from  this,  the  First  Congressional 
district,  and  elected.  He  was  from  Plymouth.  IFe  had 
served  in  the  Confederate  army,  being  promoted  from  Cap- 
tain of  Company  G,  First  Regiment,  to  Major  ..f  that  regi- 
ment. In  1864  he  represented  Washington  County  in  the 
House,  and  in  1870  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  that  dis- 
trict. At  that  session  he  was  President  pro  tern.  lie  came  to 
Greenville  in  1875  and  was  a  Tilden  presidential  elector  in 
1876. 

August  14th,  1S80,  General  Bryan  Grimes  was  assassi- 
nated, at  Bear  Creek,  very  near  the  Pitt  and  Beaufort  line. 
He  was  returning  from  Washington,  with  Bryan  Satter- 
thwaite,  a  boy  about  twelve  years  old.  when  he  was  shot  from 
ambush,  one  shot  taking  effect,  severing  an  arterv.  Several 


182  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

others  lodged  on  the  wood  work  of  the  top  of  his  buggy,  but 
none  hit  Bryan.  He  died  almost  instantly.  Efforts  were  at 
once  made  to  track  and  catch  the  assassin,  but  they  were  not 
then  successful.  It  was  found  that  the  assassin  stood  behind 
a  tree  in  the  creek,  had  cut  out  an  opening  to  the  road, 
through  the  bush  tops,  and  by  this  means  got  a  good  aim. 
Later  William  Parker  was  arrested  and  tried  at  Williamston 
for  the  crime,  and  after  a  long  trial  acquitted.  Afterwards 
he  practically  boasted  of  the  crime,  and  one  morning  in  1888, 
when  the  Washington  bridge  tender  went  down  early  to  open 
the  draw,  for  a  boat  to  go  on  its  trip  up  the  river,  he  found  a 
man  hanging  from  the  draw.  It  was  William  Parker.  He 
had  been  lynched. 

General  Grimes  was  one  of  the  most  skillful,  brave  and  suc- 
cessful -fighters  produced  by  the  Civil  War.  Without  mili- 
tary experience,  he  entered  the  service  and  successively  rose 
from  Major  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  to  Major  General.  Of 
him  it  has  been  said  that  ain  devotion  to  duty,  in  faithfulness 
to  every  trust,  in  sincerity  of  purpose,  in  dauntless  courage, 
in  unselfish  patriotism- — in  everything  that  constitutes  a 
noble,  generous,  true  man — North  Carolina  has  never  hon- 
ored a  son  superior  to  Bryan  Grimes."  He  was  less  than 
fifty-two  years  of  age  and  lies  buried  in  the  family  cemetery 
at  Grimesland. 


SKETCHES    OF    IMTT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    THIRTY-NINE. 


TENTJI      CENSUS — COUNTY     TOWNS — -EDUCATION —  K\  MU- 
TTONS OF  THE  OLD  MALE  ACADEMY — PROMINENT  TK.UH- 
ERS — LATHAM      DEFEATED — YELLOWLY      DEAD  -~.I.\i:vis 
MINISTER    TO    BRAZIL — FINE     BABIES — EARTJIQUAKK 
LATHAM  ELECTED — RAILROAD. 

The  Census  of  1880  gave  Pitt  a  population  of  L' 1,71'4, 
10,704  being  whites  and  11,088  being  colored.  By  town- 
ships the  population  was: 

Belvoir    (including  Bethel,   127;   Penny  Hill,  30)  ...  2,.">!i:; 

Chicod 2,52:; 

Contentnea   2,009 

Falkland   1,937 

Farmville   (including  Farmville,  111;  Marlboro,  TO)    ...  2,497 

Greenville   (including  Greenville,  912) 4,047 

Pactolus 2,898 

Swift  Creek   2,03n 

Bethel  had  been  incorporated  about  seven  years  before. 
]t  had  been  a  post-office  long  before  the  war,  there  being  tw<> 
stores  at  Old  Bethel,  or  the  cross-roads,  and  having  once-a- 
week  mail  to  Greenville.  On  the  completion  of  the  Albe- 
marle  and  Raleigh  Railroad  to  Williamston  from  Tarboro,  in 
1882,  it  began  to  grow  and  the  business  moved  nearer  the 
depot,  and  since  almost  entirely  to  Railroad  street. 

Penny  Hill,  an  important  landing  on  Tar  River,  was  also 
an  important  business  point  and  recently  incorporated. 

Farmville  was  a  new  town,  between  Marlboro  and  Joyner's 
Cross-Roads,  on  the  south  side  of  CoTitentnea  Creek.  .Toy- 
ner's  had  long  been  a  post-office.  There  was  a  store  and 
blacksmith  shop.  Marlboro  was  just  a  mile  south.  Antioch 
church  had  been  built  between  these  places  in  1854  and  was 
followed  by  a  nice  school  building  three  years  later.  As  the 

NOTE. — Before  the  next  census  Belvoir  was  divided  and  Bethel  formecl ; 
Farmville  divided  and  Beaver  Dam  formed  and  Pactolus  divided  and 
Carolina  formed. 


184  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

other  two  places  were  not  as  progressive  as  the  spirit  of  their 
communities,  and  the  war  having  had  its  effect  upon  them, 
a  store  was  built  near  the  school-house.  Soon  two  others 
were  built  and  a  prosperous  little  village  resulted  by  the 
seventies,  early  in  which  it  was  incorporated,  and  Farmville 
became  a  town,  too.  Its  progress  was  steady,  and  now  it  is 
one  of  the  best  towns  in  the  State. 

Marlboro,  which  has  already  been  mentioned,  was  now  los- 
ing its  importance,  and  its  plankroad  was  a  thing  of  the 
past. 

Greenville  had  made  good  growth  from  iS70,  but  was  yet 
a  small  country  town,  the  boats  on  the  river  giving  it  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world. 

Educational  matters  were  now  improving  in  the  county. 
The  public  schools,  which  had  at  first  been  looked  upon  with 
so  much  disfavor,  were  now  growing  in  number,  favor  and 
attendance.  The  school-houses  were  generally  good  frame 
houses,  though  not  ceiled  or  plastered,  there  being  but  few  of 
the  old  log  houses  remaining.  The  old  Male  Academy,  that 
had  such  a  long  and  honorable  career,  was  under  Professor 
W.  II.  Ragsdale,  who  came  from  Granville  County  and  was 
destined  to  do  much  for  the  educational  interests  of  the 
County.  This  was  the  school  chartered  in  1786,  and  which 
had,  up  to  the  war,  educated  young  men  and  women  from  all 
sectii  uis  of  the  country,  and  ranked  with  other  schools  of  a 
like  and  higher  grade.  Its  first  home  was  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Second  and  Greene  streets.  Much  of  the  time  a 
school  for  young  ladies  was  taught  in  connection  with  it,  but 
later  became  a  separate  school.  The  boys  were  taught  in  a 
two-story  building  that  had  a  chimney  at  each  end.  The 
girls  were  taught  in  a  separate  building.  Besides  the  great 
"Three  Ks"  of  those  days,  many  of  the  arts  and  sciences  were 
taught.  Among  its  teachers  were  many  well  known  to  the 
profession  and  others,  who  afterwards  filled  other  positions. 
Among  them  were  Professor  Love  joy,  James  Murray,  Dr. 
C.  -I.  O'lTagan,  Dr.  David  E.  Wallace,  E.  J.  Warren  (after- 


SKETCHES    OF    1'ITT 


1S5 


KX-GOVI-:UNOH  T.  .!.  .JAKYIS. 


186  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

wards  Judge)  and  others.  Among  the  lady  teachers  were 
Mrs.  Dockery,  Mrs.  Saffre,  Mrs.  Dimoch,  Miss  Sallie  Ann 
Jones  and  others.  The  war  interferred  with  its  progress, 
and  for  several  years  after  it  was  not  well  patronized,  but 
under  Professor  Ragsdale  it  began  to  take  on  new  life. 
There  were  other  good  schools  in  the  county,  among  them 
being  those  of  Farmville  and  Bethel  and  others,  all  of  which 
were  doing  good  work. 

In  1882  Maj.  L.  C.  Latham  was  again  a  candidate  for 
Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  TV.  F.  Pool. 

Col.  E.  C.  Yellowly  died  at  Asheville  September  23, 
1883.  He  had  gone  there  for  his  health.  He  was  a  brave 
soldier,  an  able  lawyer  and  an  old-school  gentleman. 

After  buying  the  Express,  J.  E,  Whichard  changed  its 
name  to  the  Reflector,  wnich  his  brother,  D.  J.  Whichard, 
bought  from  him  in  1885. 

Ex-Governor  T.  J.  Jarvis  was  appointed  Minister  to  Bra- 
zil by  President  Cleveland  in  March,  1885,  and  soon  sailed 
for  that  country.  He  was  there  four  years. 

These  were  prosperous  and  good  times  in  Pitt,  and  an  ob- 
servant tourist  declared  that  "the  county  is  remarkable  for  its 
fine  babies,  both  white  and  colored,  and  the  coming  genera- 
tion will  undoubtedly  be  a  marked  one  in  the  history  of  the 
county." 

The  year  1886  is  still  remembered  as  the  earthquake  year. 
The  first  shock  was  felt  about  nine  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the 
31st  of  August.  It  was  quickly  followed  by  two  other  shocks. 
~No  damage  was  done,  but  it  greatly  frightened  a  great  many 
people.  For  some  time  afterwards  shocks  were  felt,  but  no 
damage  was  done.  Charleston,  S.  C.,  was  the  center  of  the 
disturbance,  and  much  damage  was  done  there. 

Maj.  L.  C.  Latham  was  again  a  candidate  for  and  elected 
to  Congress  in  1886. 

The  railroad  from  Scotland  ]STeck  to  Kinston  was  finished 
as  far  as  Greenville  in  1880.  and  a  regular  schedule  of  trains 


SKKTCHKS    OK    PITT    COI.NTY.  1*7 

put  on.  At  first  they  stopped  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
as  the  railroad  bridge  was  not  completed. 

The  temporary  depot  was  on  the  Wilson  place,  a  little 
south  of  the  house,  and  was  called  Iliverton.  The  work  of 
extending  the  road  on  to  Kinston  was  Hearing  completion, 
and  soon  after  the  bridge  across  Tar  Uiver  was  finished  and 
trains  were- running  into  the  present  depot,  they  began  a  regu- 
lar schedule  to  Kinston.  The  train  left  in  the  morning  and 
came  in  at  night,  and  large  crowds  were  always  on  hand  when 
it  came  in,  and  many  would  often  go  over  early  in  the  morn- 
ings to  see  it  leave. 

This  marked  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  Greenville,  and 
new  life  and  growth  took  its  hold  on  the  town  and  its  people. 


188  SKETCHES  OP  PITT  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  FORTY. 


ELEVENTH  CENSUS — GROWTH  IN  COUNTRY  AND  TOWNS — 
MORE  TOWNS — EDUCATION — COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS 
— TOBACCO — MARKET  OPENED — FARMER  GOVERNOR — 
DAILY  REFLECTOR — KING'S  WEEKLY — JARVIS  APPOINTED 
U.  S.  SENATOR — HARRY  SKINNER  ELECTED  TO  CON- 
GRESS— GREAT  FIRE — TELEPHONES — SKINNER  RE- 
ELECTED — LATHAM  DEAD — RECORDS  FOR  POSTMASTERS. 

Pitt  County  made  much  progress  and  development  from 
1880  to  1890.  Its  population  showed  a  good  increase  and 
also  its  industries  and  farming.  Its  population  was  now 
25,519.  By  townships  it  was  as  follows: 

Beaver  Dam    ]  ,068 

Belvoir 1,340 

Bethel   (including  Bethel  town,  377 ) 2,068 

Contentnea  (including  part  of  Grifton,  107) 2,812 

Carolina 1,324 

Chicod 3,089 

Falkland    (including  Falkland  town,  61) 1.759 

Farmville    (including   Farmville   town,    140;    Marlboro, 

92)    1,981 

Greenville   (including  Greenville  town,  1,937) 5,679 

Pactolus   (including  Pactolus  town,  105) 1,768 

Swift  Creek   (including  part  of  Grifton,  14) 2,631 

By  races  the  population  was:  white,  13,192;  colored, 
12,327. 

Grifton  was  a  new  town,  recently  incorporated.  The  first 
mention  of  Grifton  is  that  of  'Tetter's  Ferry"  about  1755, 
the  land  thereabout  having  been  "patented"  by  one  Petters. 
Later  it  was  known  as  Blount's  Ford  or  Ferry,  then  Bell's 
Ferry,  and  later  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Grifton.  It 
has  the  distinction  of  being  in  two  counties  and  three  town- 
ships;  also  two  congressional  and  two  judicial  districts, 
namely,  in  Contentnea  and  Swift  Creek  townships,  Pitt 
Comity,  and  in  Contentnea  Xeck  township,  Lenoir.  It  is  in 
the  Third  and  Fifth  judicial  districts.  It  is  also  in  two 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COl'NTV. 


State  senatorial  districts,  the  Sixth  and  Eighth.  Two 
sheriffs  and  three  township  constables,  within  their  respective 
jurisdictions,  as  well  as  the  town  police,  exercise  legal  author 
ity  in  the  town.  This  year  the  Scotland  Xeck  and  Kinston 
Railroad  was  completed  to  Kinston  and  a  regular  train  scr- 
vico  began.  This  gave  a  IMIOIII  to  Grifton. 

This  railroad  ran  through  a  fine  section  of  country  and 
other  little  towns  sprang;  up  along  its  route.  Among;  them 
were  Aydcn  and  Winterville,  both  of  which  were  destined  to 
become  of  importance  in  the  near  future. 

Falkland  was  a  post-office  with  a  daily  mail  many  years 
before  the  war  of  IS (5 1-5,  with  a  good  business.  Tt  is  sup- 


r 


IjirfwJ  *  *-*       Ufc»- 

[TOBACCO  WAREHOUSE 


lull       'BBI~ 

1 


GREENVILLE'S   FIRST   TOBACCO  WAREHOUSE. 
(Burned  some  years  ago.) 

posed  to  have  taken  its  name  from  Falkland,  of  Scotland. 
long  the  home  of  Scottish  kings.  It  is  ten  miles  northwest  of 
Greenville,  one  mile  from  Tar  "River.  It  was  incorporated 
about  1887. 

There  had  been  steady  advancement  along1  educational  lines 
for  some  time,  and  Pitt's  educational  advantages  offered  by 
its  public  schools  were  good.  There  was  more  system  about 
the  work  and  more  attention  to  the  details.  Most  of  the  school- 
houses  were  now  a  single  room  frame  building,  with  heater 
instead  of  chimney,  home-made  desks  and  benches,  glass  win- 
dows, blackboards  and  other  helps,  and  many  were  painted. 


190  SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY. 

Taken  altogether,  it  was  at  that  time  a  great  improvement. 
G.  B.  King  was  now  superintendent,  having  succeeded  Major 
Henry  Harding,  who  had  devoted  several  years  to  the  work. 
His  predecessor  was  the  late  Elder  Josephus  Latham.  Pro- 
fessor "\V.  IT.  JRagsdale  was  elected  superintendent  in  1891. 

For  several  years  Pitt  County  had  now  been  making  to- 
bacco and  many  of  its  farmers  had  taken  prizes  on  the  Hen- 
derson, Oxford,  Durham,  and  other  markets.  A  market  was 
needed  nearer  home,  and  1891  saw  the  beginning  of  the 
market  at  Greenville.  A  large  crop  had  been  made  in  1890 
and  a  larger  crop  planted  this  year.  So  a  stock  company  was 
organized  and  the  Greenville  warehouse  built.  It  was  a  suc- 
cess, and  was  followed  by  other  warehouses,  till  the  Green- 
ville market  is  among  the  best  and  largest  in  the  State. 

In  1892  the  Washington  Branch  Railroad  was  built.  It 
extends  from  Parmele  to  Washington,  nearly  all  its  length  be- 
ing in  Pitt.  Pactolus  is  on  this  road. 

Pactolus  was  quite  an  old  place,  but  only  recently  incorpo- 
rated. It  is  one  mile  from  Tar  River.  In  1790  a  Greek,  by 
the  name  of  Lincoln,  settled  near  there.  He  was  a  school 
teacher.  About  1810  he  named  the  place  Pactolus  because 
the  land  was  so  fertile  and  the  promise  of  reward  so  great, 
after  the  river  Pactolus,  in  Asia  Minor,  whose  sand  was 
mixed  with  gold,  and  the  country  very  productive.  The  first 
store  was  built  about  18-40  by  Churchill  Perkins.  Yankee 
Hall  was  then,  as  long  before,  an  important  shipping  point, 
and  Pactolus  profited  and  grew  on  this  and  its  own  business. 
The  building  of  the  railroad  in  1892  gave  it  new  life. 

Oakley,  Stokes  and  Whichard  are  towns  on  the  Washing- 
ton Branch  that  have  sprung  into  existence  since  the  building 
of  that  road.  Oakley  and  Stokes  are  incorporated.  Stokes 
is  the  largest  and  does  the  most  business,  though  none  has  over 
100  population. 

The  Farmers'  Alliance  was  now  an  important  factor  in 
business  and  in  politics,  and  Elias  Carr,  of  Fdgecombe,  was 
nominated  and  eler-ted  Governor.  He  was  a  strong  Alliance- 


8KKTCHKS    OF    PITT    COl.'XTY.  101 

man,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  best  f armors  in  the  State, 
being  tho  first  farmer  elected  to  that  ofiice  in  many  years. 

In    1801    I).    ,1.    Whichard    began    the    publicaiion    of   the 
Daily  He/lecloi;  and  Andrew  .loyner  Kegan  the  publication  of 


II AUK V  SKI. XX EH 

the  Index,  a  weekly  paper.  The  Index  was  bought  by 
Henry  T.  King,  the  next  year,  and  the  name  changed  to 
King's  Weekly. 

April  10th,  IbOl,  Governor  L'arr  aji])ointed  Ex-Governor 
T.  J.  Jarvis,  a  Ignited  States  Senator  to  succeed  the  lab- 
Senator  Z.  B.  Vance,  who  had  died  on  the  1  1th.  On  the  i'tJrh 
Senator  Jarvis  was  in  his  seat  in  tho  Senate. 


192  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

In  the  fall  Harry  Skinner  was  a  candidate  for  Congress 
on  the  Populist  ticket,  against  W.  A.  B.  Branch,  who  had 
served  two  terms.  Skinner  was  elected.  He  came  to  Green- 
ville from  Perquimans,  a  young  man,  in  1875.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  1891. 

Maj.  L.  C.  Latham  died  October  16th,  1S95.  He  was 
born  September  llth,  1840.  He  was  one  of  the  ablest  law- 
years  of  the  State  and  a  powerful  debater  on  the  stump. 

On  the  night  of  February  15th  (Saturday),  1896,  Green- 
ville suffered  a  disastrous  fire.  It  started  in  Edmunds'  bar- 
ber shop,  late  that  night,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  caused 
by  a  lamp  explosion  or  incendiary.  All  buildings  on  both 
sides  of  ]\Iain  street  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets,  ex- 
cept Cherry's  and  Brown  and  Hooker's  stores  and  the  old 
Dancy  building  were  a  total  loss.  Several  buildings  on  the 
south  side  of  Third  street  were  also  burned.  The  loss  was 
near  $100,000. 

A  system  of  telephones  having  been  put  in  Greenville,  in 
July  the  exchange  was  put  in  operation.  "W.  S.  Atkins  and 
D.  E.  House  were  the  owners.  It  opened  with  less  than  one 
hundred  'phones. 

At  the  fall  election  Harry  Skinner  was  re-elected  to  Con- 
gress by  a  vote  of  20,875  to  14,831  for  W.  IT.  Lucas, 
Democrat. 

In  1897  -T.  11.  Tingle  was  elected  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction  for  the  County. 

Early  in  1898  two  post-office  changes  were  made  in  the 
county  that  broke  records  of  long  time  in  two  families.  The 
Pactolus  office  had  been  filled  by  J.  .1.  Rollins  and  his  family 
for  over  sixty  years.  On  the  death  of  Rollins,  T.  J.  Mobley 
was  appointed  postmaster.  The  Falkland  post-office  had  been 
filled  by  Dr.  P.  II.  Mayo  and  some  of  his  family  for  more 
than  forty  years.  This  year  J.  F.  Parker  was  appointed  post- 
master. Falkland  had  a  daily  mail  from  Tarboro  to  Green- 
ville Ions:  before  the  Civil  War. 


SKETCHES    OF     1MTT    COTXTY. 


CHAPTKR   FORTY-ONE. 


SPANISH-AMERICAN  W  \n — (  IKKKXVILI.K  (i  CARDS — OKKI- 
CERS — MUSTERED  ix  AT  RALEIGH — (Jo  TO  TYHEE--- 
STORM — M  CSTKKKD  ( )r  r — SKI  x  x  i-:i;  I  )i:i  KATKD — ( i'i;i-:i-:x- 
VILLE  FAIU — SECOXD  (JiuiAT  Fn;i.  TI.XOI.I:  Sr<  <!•;!•  ;DKD 
HY  RAGSDALE — J>UYAX  GKIMKS  FI.KCTKO  SKCKKTAKY  oi> 
STATE —  RAILROAD— -  TELEPHONE  MATTKKS-  AMKXD- 

.\IKXT TWELFTH   ('KXSTS ToNVXS         l)i;.   ()'IlA».AX    1>KAI>. 

Tlio  }KK)])lc  of  the  United  Stales,  ami  (.'specially  those  of  the 
South,  have  always  sympathized  with  Cuba  in  its  >tni^lo> 
for  independence.  Therefore,  when  <>u  the  niii'ht  <if  ih<;  l.~,th 
of  l-'ebruary,  1M»S,  the  I'niled  States  l»nt  t  leship  Maine  was 
blown  ii])  in  Havana  harbor,  while  on  a  friendly  visit, 
I  here  was  an  nlnio-t  univer-al  cry  for  war,  to  avenue  the 
death  of  iMJI  of  her  officer-  and  men  by  that  catastrophe. 
\Var  was  declared  the  last  of  April,  and  in  respon-c  to  tin- 
call  of  President  Mclvinley  for  li'.VXM)  men.  the  (Ireenville 
(luards.  Pitt's  military  company,  offered  M-  s<Tvice.  llow- 
c\'er.  less  than  half  tin-  men  actually  enlisted  and  were-  mus- 
tered into  service,  but  with  other  enlistment  the  compaiiv  had 
Ji  strength  of  .100  officers  and  men.  It  became  Company  E 
of  the  Second  Xorth  Carolina  Regiment.  Among  it-  ollicers 
were  J.  T.  Smith,  Captain;  J.  C.  Albritton,  .First,  and  K.  \'. 
Cox.  Second  Lieutenants;  J.  \'.  Johnston,  -I.  Md).  Wind- 
ham  and  A.  I).  Jolniston,  Sergeants;  II.  II.  Blackley,  II.  C. 
Fornes,  1).  S.  Moore.  W.  W.  Perkins  and  -I.  T.  Robcy,  Cor- 
porals; IT.  A.  7)low  and  .1.  II.  ('heck,  Mu-ician-:  all  from 
Pitt.  Captain  Smith  and  Musician  Plow  were  veterans  of 
the  Confederate  army  of  1S0  !-.">;  the  others  were  youn<r  men. 

"File  company  was  mustered  in  at  Raleigh  and  after  six 
weeks  of  camp  instruction  the  regiment  was  divided  into 
squads  and  sent  on  duty  to  various  points  south.  Two  com- 
panies, A  and  E,  were  sent  to  Tybee  Island,  Georgia,  under 
command  of  Maj.  W.  T.  Wilder.  While  at  Tyhee  Island 
13 


194  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

they  had  no  greater  experience  than  that  of  one  of  the  severest 
storms  known  on  the  coast,  which  blew  many  tents  down  and 
away,  and  caused  the  loss  of  much  property,  but  no  lives. 
They  never  reached  Cuba,  nor  were  they  ever  blood-bathed  in 
the  battle's  fury,  for  theirs  was  the  misfortune  to  never  be 
allowed  to  conquer  the  valiant  foe,  their  services  not  being 


.).   HHVAX  CHIMES. 

needed  in  Cuba.  So  they  were  finally  given  a  thirty  days 
furlough,  at  the  end  of  which  they  assembled  at  Tarboro  and 
were  mustered  out  the  latter  part  of  November. 

At  the  fall  election  Harry  Skinner  was  again  a  candidate 
(for  a  third  term)  for  Congress,  but  was  beaten  by  J.  IT. 
Small,  by  a  vote  of  19,732  to  18,203. 

This  was  also  the  year  of  Greenville's  first  fair.  An  asso- 
ciation had  l>een  formed  and  ground  secured  from  J.  L. 
Moore  for  the  purpose.  A  race  course  was  laid  off  and  build- 
ings erected.  The  fair  was  well  advertised  and  well  attended. 
The  racing  was  very  good  and  the  exhibits  would  have  done 
credit  to  a  greater  occasion.  Tt  was  a  success,  but  was  not 


SKKTCHKS    OK     IMTT     lOI.NTY.  105 

repeated,  though  the  grounds  were  used  for  races  several 
years  afterwards. 

Greenville  suffered  another  threat  firo  in  May.  1 ->'.i'.i.  It 
started  in  an  upper  room,  over  Cheek's  bar,  the  origin  b:-ing 
unknown.  South  of  Fourth  street  all  buildings  on  ihe  east 
side  of  Main  street  were  burned  as  far  as  the  .lame-  Long 
store;  on  the  west  side  all  were  burned  as  far  as  the  I>ai.k  of 
Greenville;  several  others  on  Fourth  street  were  also  burned. 
The  loss  was  about  $100,000. 

In  -Inly  the  commissioners  eleeted  Prof.  \V.  II.  Ragsdale 
County  Superintendent  to  succeed  J.  K.  Tingle. 

In  1900  J.  Bryan  Grimes  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats 
for  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  and  elected  by  a  vote  of 

to for  Dr.  0.  Thompson.  Tie  is  the  first 

native  Pitt  County  son  to  occupy  so  high  a  position  in  our 
State  government. 

The  East  Carolina  Railroad,  from  Tarboro,  was  completed 
to  Farmville  in  1900.  It  was  originally  a  lumber  road,  run- 
ning out  south  from  Tarboro,  but  its  president,  II.  C.  Bridg- 
ers,  concluded  to  make  a  freight  and  passenger  road  and  ex- 
tended it. 

The  Carolina  and  Virginia  Telephone  Company  bought  out 
the  Greenville  Telephone  Company,  from  Atkins  and  House, 
this  year  and  greatly  increased  its  facilities  for  business,  and 
extended  it  by  building  more  country  lines. 

This  year  was  known  as  the  Amendment  Year,  the  last 
legislature  having  passed  an  act  to  submit  an  amendment, 
for  the  purpose  of  disfranchising  the  negroes,  to  the  people 
at  an  August  election.  It  was  a  warm  campaign  and  the 
matter  was  agitating  the  people  in  every  county.  The  sum- 
mer was  a  season  of  speech-making  all  over  the  State.  It  was 
ratified  by  a  large  majority,  the  vote  in  Pitt  being  0.114-  for 
2,042  against. 

The  Census  of  1900  gave  Pitt  a  population  of  30. .^S9. 
Bv  races  it  was:  white,  l.~,397:  colored,  l 


196  SKETCHES    OF     PITT     COUNTY. 

By  townships  it  was : 

Beaver  Da  in    1,31:2 

Belvoir 1,342 

Bethel   (including  Bethel  town,  457) 2,27!> 

Carolina 1,()04 

Chicod    (including  Grimesland,   277  ) 3,721 

Contentnea     I  including    Aydcn,    .r).")7  :     part    of    Grifton, 

200 ;    and   Winterville,   229 ) 4,047 

Falkland    ( including  Falkland  town,   13(J ) 2,131) 

Farniville   (including  Fannville  town,  2(52  ) 2,3(51 

Greenville    (including  Greenville   town,  2,o(io) 7,323 

Pactolus    (including  Pactolus  town,  .~>2) 1,679 

Swift  Creek    (including  part  <.f  Grifton,  29) 3,082 

Grimesland  was  first  known  as  Xelsonville  and  became  a 
post-office  under  that  name  in  1S&<"),  when  it  was  only  a  cross- 
roads, with  one  or  two  small  stores.  In  1887  the  name  was 
changed  to  Grimesland.  in  honor  of  General  Bryan  Grimes. 
In  IM'o  it  was  incorporated,  and  since  has  had  a  remarkable 
growth  in  business  and  population. 

Ayden  was  laid  out  and  named  in  1890.  on  the  lands  of 
W.  II.  Harris.  It  became  a  place  of  importance,  being  on 
the  railroad  and  in  the  midst  of  a  line  farming  section.  In 
addition  io  bu.-iness  growth  it  M>OII  became  The  seat  of  two 
good  M-honK  the  Carolina  Christian  College  and  the  Free 
Will  IJapti-1  Theological  Seminary. 

Grindool.  Statons  and  House  are  stations  on  the  Scotland 
Xeck  and  Kin.-t<>n  road  between  Parmelo,  and  Greenville: 
and  Littlefield  and  ITanrahan  are  stations  between  Ayden 
and  Grifton. 

Shelmerdine  is  a  thriving  little  town  on  the  Beaufort 
County  Lumber  Company's  road,  which  extends  from  Green- 
ville to  near  Vanceboro.  It  has  about  iJ50  peopje. 

Fountain  is  a  new  town  on  the  Fast  Carolina  Road.  It 
was  incorporated  in  190'i  and  has  grown  rapidly.  It  is  now 
estimated  to  have  near  400  population. 

Tugwell   is  a  station   between  Fountain  and  Farniville. 

In  1877  John  C.  ('ox  obtained  a  patent  for  improvements 
in  a  cotton-planter  and  began  manufacturing  them  at  his 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


place,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  present  Wintervillc.  This 
business  made  others,  and  soon  it  was  a  business  center.  The 
railroad  came  in  181)0,  and  four  years  later  the  business  was 
all  moved  to  the  railroad  and  soon  Wintervilln  became  the 


manufacturing  town  of  the  ('omity,  with  various  industries. 
In  1S99  the  AVintervillo  High  School  opened  in  a  two-room 
house  with  twenty-two  pupils. 

Dr.  C.  J.  O'Hagan  died  December  ISih.  1000.  He  was 
born  in  Ireland  September  lf>th,  1S21.  lie  was  an  educated 
and  talented  man.  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  and  at- 
tained a  national  reputation  in  his  profession. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  FORTY-TWO. 


FIRST  FOUR-WEEKS  TEACHERS'  INSTITUTE  IN  STATE — 
RURAL  FREE  DELIVERY — HARRY  SKINNER  APPOINTED 
UNITED  STATES  DISTRICT  ATTORNEY — SPECIAL  TAXES 
FOR  SCHOOLS — TEACHERS  ORGANIZE — COUNTY  BOARD  OF 
EDUCATION — FULL-TIME  SUPERINTENDENT  —  HOUSES  — 
MEDALS — GRIMES  RE-ELECTED—SKINNER  RE-APPOINTED 
--RAILROADS — PUBLIC  BUILDING — STEEL  BRIDGES — 
GRIMES  ELECTED  THIRD  TIME — TRAINING  SCHOOL — 
PITT  DRY. 

At  Winterville,  in  the  summer  of  1901,  was  held  the  first 
four  weeks  Institute  for  Teachers  held  in  the  State.  It  was 
held  for  the  benefit  of  the  teachers  of  Pitt  and  Greene  coun- 
ties, and  Professor  Ragsdale,  Superintendent  for  Pitt,  and 
Rev.  M.  P.  Davis,  Superintendent  for  Greene,  were  in 
charge.  Professors  C.  L.  Coon,  of  Salisbury ;  F.  L.  Carr, 
of  Snow  Hill ;  G.  E.  Lineberry,  of  Wmterville,  and  Z.  D. 
McWhorter,  of  Bethel,  were  the  instructors.  There  were  127 
teachers  in  attendance. 

Jn  September,  1901,  the  first  Rural  Free  Delivery  of  mail 
was  put  in  operation  in  Pitt.  Three  routes  were  established 
and  the  carriers  began  with  little  mail  to  distribute.  -Its 
growth  since  has  been  phenomenal. 

In  1902  Harry  Skinner  was  appointed  United  States  Dis- 
trict Attorney  by  President  Roosevelt,  for  the  Eastern  Dis- 
trict of  Xorth  Carolina. 

The  people  were  now  becoming  more  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters,  and  Bethel  was  the  first  town  in  the  County 
to  vote  a  special  tax  and  establish  a  graded  school.  The 
Bethel  school  had  previously  had  only  two  teachers,  but  they 
were  now  increased  to  five  and  the  school  term  lengthened 
from  throe  months  1o  eight,  and  a  good  library  was  estab- 
lished. This  was  in  1902.  On  the  8th  of  Xovember  there 
was  a  teachers'  meeting  in  the  court-house  and  a  Teachers' 
Association  organized. 


SKETCI1KS    OK    PITT    (or.Vry. 


Greenville  voted  a  graded  school  tax  in  1!)0.'5  and  its  -cbuol 
opened  in  November  in  a  largo  brick  building  on.  the  site  of 
the  old  Academy.  It  began  with  a  large  attendance,  and  be- 
sides the  Superintendent  had  six  teachers.  A  graded  school 
for  the  negroes  was  also  opened  at  the  same  time. 

At  Aydcn  a  special  tax  was  voted,  the  Christian  College 
property  bought  and  a  graded  school  begun. 

These  were  followed  by  Grifton,  Centreville  and  Standard 
in  1904.  The  next  year  saw  still  other  places  doing  likewise, 
and  it  continue-;. 


I'KOF.  \\.   II.   H.U;si).U.K. 

In  1904  J.  Bryan  Grimes  was  again  the  Democratic  candi- 
date for  Secretary  of  State  and  again  elected. 

Under  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  1S9T  school  matters 
were  put  in  the  hands  of  three  men,  constituting  the  Board  of 
Education  for  the  County.  A.  G.  Cox,  W.  F.  [larding  and 
S.  M.  Jones  were  the  first  Board.  They  elected  Professor 
Kagsdale,  County  Superintendent.  lie  was  jiiiain  elected  in 
1903,  and  was  to  give  his  whole  time  to  the  work. 


200  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

Many  school  districts  have  been  consolidated  or  extended, 
better  houses  built  and  better  teachers  employed.  In  1890 
there  was  not  a  public  school  with  more  than  one  teacher. 
Xow  there  are  fifteen  employing-  two  teachers,  one  employing 
three,  and  five  employing  five  or  more,  Greenville  being  the 
largest,  with  eleven,  in  addition  to  the  Superintendent. 

A  Teachers'  Betterment  Association  was  organized  in  the 
fall  of  1906.  It  is  to  encourage  better  conditions  for  both 
fichool-houses  and  grounds.  Miss  Bettie  Wright  was  its  first 
president. 

Among  the  school-houses  now  in  the  country  districts  are- 
many  with  two  rooms,  some  with  three,  and  some  have  a  sepa- 
rate music  room.  These  buildings  are  nice,  modern  houses, 
nicely  finished,  painted  and  inviting.  They  are  furnished 
with  patented  desks,  have  maps  and  pictures  on  their  walls, 
are  well  lighted  and  heated  and  have  valuable  libraries.  The 
music  rooms  are  even  better  furnished  and  have  oil  stoves 
and  upright  pianos.  Much  progress  has  been  made  educa- 
tionally mid  the  people  are  interested  in  keeping  in  touch 
with  it. 

Another  stimulus  to  educational  interests  was  the  offering 
by  Secretary  .if  State  .1.  Bryan  Grimes  a  medal  to  be  known 
as  the  Mary  Odavia  Grimos  Medal,  for  the  best  essay  on 
local  history,  by  a  Pitt  County  school  girl  or  boy,  in  the  public 
schools.  This  medal  has  been  the  source  of  keen  emulation 
and  much  research.  This  offer  was  followed  by  A.  G.  Cox 
offering  one  for  the  second  best  essay.  These  offers  have  been 
followed  by  other  medal  offers,  all  of  which  stimulate  the 
boys  and  girls  in  a  profitable  rivalry. 

In  1906  President  Itoosevelt  reappointcd  Harry  Skinner 
United  States  District  Attorney. 

The  Xorfolk  and  Southern  IJailroad,  from  Raleigh  to 
Washington,  by  Greenville,  was  completed  in  1907,  and  it 
carried  its  first  passengers  to  the  State  Fair  to  hear  William 
Jennings  Bryan  speak.  This  road  runs  through  Farmville 
and  Grimesland  and  opens  up  a  fine  section.  Two  new  sta- 


SKETCI1KS    OK    PITT    COL'JNTY. 


201 


tions  arc  Arthur,  between  Farmville  and  Greenville,  and 
Simpson,  between  Greenville  and  Grimesland.  This  road 
was  begun  several  years  before  and  finally  bought  by  the  Nor- 
folk and  Southern,  which  Completed  it,  giving  another  direct 
line  to  the  Xorthern  markets. 

Shortly  before  adjourning,  in  the  spring,  1908,  Congress 
passed  a  bill  appropriating  $10,000  for  purchasing  a  site  for 
a  public  building  for  Greenville.  Offers  for  sites  have  been 
advertised  for,  an  inspector  has  considered  the  sites  offered, 
and  bouuhl  the  Harrington  lot  in  front  of  the  court-house. 


The  East  Carolina  Railroad  has  been  extended  to  Hooker- 
ton,  in  Greene  County,  from  Farmville.  Grading  for  the 
extension  of  the  Xorfolk  and  Southern  from  Farmville  to 
Snow  Hill  was  finished  in  the  summer. 


202  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

During  the  summer  the  old  wood  bridge  across  the  river 
at  Greenville  was  replaced  by  a  handsome  steel  one,  costing 
near  $50,000.  Another  steel  bridge  has  been  built  across 
Big  Conteiitnea  Creek  (or  Moccasin  River),  at  Grifton,  to 
replace  the  old  wood  bridge  there.  Another  work  of  the 
county  commissioners  was  the  building  of  a  mile  of  experi- 
mental road,  in  conjunction  with  the  Federal  Government. 
The  road  begins  on  Dickinson  avenue  at  the  Atlantic  Coast 
crossing  and  extends  one  mile  up  the  old  plankroad. 

J.  Bryan  Grimes,  Secretary  of  State,  was  again  renomi- 
nated  this  year,  and  again  reelected. 

A  State  election,  upon  the  question  of  State-wide  prohibi- 
tion, was  held  in  1908,  and  the  State  went  dry,  or  for  prohi- 
bition, by  a  very  large  majority.  Pitt  gave  a  large  majority 
for  prohibition.  Under  the  Watts  bill  much  of  the  County 
had  been  dry  and  some  other  places  had  voted  for  the  dis- 
pensary. Thus  the  legal  sale  of  liquor  had  been  consider- 
ably restricted.  State  prohibition  went  into  operation  Jan- 
uary 1st,  1909. 


SKKTCHKS    OF     PITT    <(>C.\TV. 


CHAPTER  E01IT  Y-TII I  IKE. 


L AUG 1 1 1 N  G  HOU  SE        S  i;  I'  K  It  I  N  T  K  X  I  >  K  N  T       OF        P  1  •:  N  I T  J :  N  T  I  A  I i  Y  •  - 

POST-OFFICE  SITK — TUAIM.\(;  SCHOOL  ()i'i:.\i:i> — ITS 
HISTORY— SEXATOR  ELKMINU  J)KAI> — Bi<;  I-IKI; — 
CouiiT-iiorsK  ]>UKXKI> — RECOI;I>S  SAVKD — GKKF.NVII.LK 
POST-OFFICE  ADVANCED  TO  SECOND  CLASS. 

Jn  the  spring  of  1009,  Governor  Kite-bin  appointed  Cap- 
tain ,].  ,} .  Laughinghouse  Superintendent  of  the  State  peni- 
tentiary and  farms,  to  succeed  J.  S.  .Mann.  Captain  Laugh- 
inghouse had  been  very  prominent  in  the  County  and  had 
twice  represented  the  County  in  the  lower  bouse  of  the  legis- 
lature. 

The  Federal  government  having  made  an  appropriation 
of  $10,000  for  a  public  building  for  post-office  purposes  for 
Greenville,  several  sites  were  offered  for  it.  In  the  summer 
of  this  year,  the  site  was  selected  and  bought.  It  is  the  Har- 
rington lot,  in  front  of  the  court-house,  at  the  corner  of 
Evans  and  Third  streets. 

October  5th,  1900,  the  East  Carolina  Teachers'  Training 
School,  at  Greenville,  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  stu- 
dents. Provision  was  made  for  the  establishment  of  this 
school  by  the  legislature  of  1907,  an  appropriation  of  $15,- 
000  being  made  for  buildings,  and  the  State  offering  it  to 
that  place  which  would  do  the  most  to  get  it  and  offer  the 
greatest  inducements  to  secure  its  location.  Quite  a  number 
of  places  contended  for  it,  but  Greenville's  offer  was  best, 
the  County  offering  the  same  amount  that  Greenville  did. 
Greenville  voted  $50,000  and  the  County  $511,000.  all  in 
bonds.  Work  was  .soon  begun  on  the  building's ,  an  Adminis- 
tration building,  two  dormitories  and  a  dining  hall.  The 
legislature  of  1M09  gave  $50.000  more  for  buildings.  $1:5.000 
for  maintenance  the  first  year  and  $15.000  a  year  thereafter. 

The  main   buildings  were  completed  by   the  opening  and 


204  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

the  others  near  completion.  The  buildings  completed  are 
the  Administration  building,  two  dormitories,  dining  hall, 
power  and  electric  plant  and  infirmary.  The  school  is  for 
the  training  of  teachers  for  the  public  schools.  About  two 
hundred  and  fifty  boarding  pupils  can  be  accommodated  in 
the  buildings. 

James  L.  Fleming,  County  Senator  in  1907,  was  the  au- 
thor of  the  Training  School  bill,  and  worked  unceasingly 
for  its  passage  through  the  legislature.  After  the  passage  of 
his  bill,  ho  worked  as  unceasingly  for  Greenville  as  its  loca- 
tion. His  efforts  were  ably  seconded  by  others.  But  he  did 
not  liye  to  see  the  success  of  the  school.  He  met  an  untimely 
death  in  an  automobile  accident,  Xovember  5th.  1000.  With 
three  friends  he  was  in  an  automobile  ride  on  the  new  sand- 
clay  road  near  Greenyille.  He  was  one  of  the  occupants  of 
the  rear  seat.  Tn  endeavoring  to  pass  a  wagon  the  automo- 
bile, which  was  going  at  a  terrific  speed,  left  the  track  and 
plunged  against  an  oak,  at  the  E.  1>.  Higgs"  place.  He  was 
thrown  out  some  distance,  and  falling  on  the  hard  road,  on 
bis  head,  met  instant  death.  Harry  Skinner,  Jr.,  another 
vme  of  the  occupants,  was  thrown  out  and  received  injuries 
that  resulted  in  his  death  in  a  fe\v  hours.  The  automobile 
was  wrecked,  and  the  other  occupants  received  injuries  that 
were  very  serious. 

On  the  night  of  the  23d  of  February,  1910,  Greenville, 
and  the  County,  suffered  heavy  losses  by  fire.  About  one 
o'clock  that  night  the  old  John  Flanagan  buggy  shops  were 
discovered  to  be  on  fire.  A  very  stiff  northeast  wind  was 
blowing  and  the  fire  spread  rapidly.  Every  building  except 
one  dwelling,  on  the  square  in  front  of  the  court-house,  was 
burned.  Most  of  the  buildings  were  wood  and  burned  rap- 
idly. Across  Evans  street,  the  fire  spread  to  the  Pitt  County 
buggy  shops.  From  there  to  the  court-house  and  jail  was  a 
short  leap  for  the  flames,  and  from  there  to  the  Masonic 


SKKTCllKS    OF    PITT    <oi  NTY.  ^05 

temple  the  tire  followed.     The  property  loss  was  over  $100,- 
000,  with  about  half  that  amount  of  insurance. 

The  court-house  was  luiilt  ahont  1  M;O  aii<l  wa-  a  splendid 
building  of  its  kind.  Some  years  ago  vaults  were-  put  in  and 
these  saved  the  record-  of  clerk'-  office  and  of  the  regi-tcr  of 
deeds'  office,  with  -carcelv  anv  damage.  The  oiilv  lo-s  bv 


any  olliee  were  the  court  papers  of  the  clerk'-  ollice.  There 
was  but  little  in-nrame  on  the  couri-ln>u-e  and  jail. 

The  ^Masonic  temple  \va-  a  new  building.  In  it  the  Ma- 
sons, Odd  Fellows  and  I'ythians  met.  MO-I  of  their  property 
and  records,  except  .-ome  of  the  Masons,  were  lost.  'File 
Board  of  Education  had  an  otlice  on  the  around  lloor  and  lost 
all  but  the  records  and  some  furniture. 

Chvinii1  to  the  increase  in  the  receipts  at  the  (Jreenville 
post-office,  this  office  was  advanced  to  second  class  in  1 '.'(»'.». 


206  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 

The  steady  increase  to  1910  indicate  that  this  year  will  show 
an  increase  that  will  reach  $10,000,  which  will  entitle  Green- 
ville to  free  delivery  of  mail. 


ADDENDA. 

In  July,  1910,  Harry  W.  Whedbee  was  nominated  for 
Judge  for  this  district.  Judge  D.  L.  Ward,  of  Xew  Bern, 
was  also  a  candidate  for  the  nomination,  having  been  ap- 
pointed a  few  months  previous  to  succeed  Judge  Guion,  re- 
signed. On  the  nomination  of  Judge  Whedbee,  Judge  Ward 
sent  in  his  resignation,  nominee  Whedbee  was  appointed  to 
succeed  him,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office. 

Judge  Whedbee  is  a  native  of  Perquimans  County,  but 
has  lived  in  Greenville  since  boyhood.  He  has  been  Mayor 
and  held  other  important  positions.  He  is  a  lawyer  oi 
ability  and  stands  high  in  the  profession. 

The  census  of  1910  gave  Pitt  County  a  population  of 
36,340,  a  gain  of  5,451  over  that  of  1900. 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUJSTY.  207 


CONCLUSION 

Pitt  County  is  centrally  located  in  the  Kastern  part  <>i'  the 
State.  H  is  naturally  an  agricultural  County.  The  soil  is 
well  adapted  to  various  crops  and  with  intelligent  cultivation 
produces  abundantly,  richly  rewarding  the  cultivator.  Its 
three  most  valuable  crops  arc  cotton,  tobacco  and  corn,  ft 
produces  annually  an  average  each  ot  cotton  and  tobacco,  ot 
$1,000,000,  sometimes  more,  and  •sometimes  a  little  less.  It 
produces  a  big  crop  of  corn,  but  not  so  large  in  value.  Be- 
sides grain,  potatoes,  peanuts  and  other  crops,  it  is  a  tine 
County  for  trucking.  Truck  can  be  grown  in  all  parts  and 
is  a  very  valuable  early  money  crop.  Any  truck  grown  in 
Eastern  Carolina  can  be  grown  profitably  in  Pitt.  Fruits, 
grapes  and  nuts  are  also  a  very  valuable  and  profitable  crop. 
Many  species  of  game  are  abundant  and  many  northern 
hunters  have  been  attracted  here  for  the  winter. 

The  climate  is  far  superior  to  many  ''Ideal  Climates."  The 
winters  are  short  and  seldom  severe.  Cold  waves  and  the 
tails  of  blizzards  sometimes  reach  Pitt,  but  have  been  tem- 
pered by  our  Sunny  South  and  seldom  last  more  than  a  few 
days,  a  temperature  of  several  degrees  below  freezing  being 
often  followed  in  a  day  or  two.  by  almost  spring  weather. 
The  summers  are  long  but  not  excessively  hot,  due  to  a  stiff 
southern  breeze.  The  rainfall  is  abundant,  but  seldom  such 
as  to  do  damage  to  crops. 

Tn  transportation  the  County  is  unsurpassed  by  almost  any 
county  in  the  State.  The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad 
passes  through  the  County  from  north  to  south  and  the  Xor- 
folk  and  Southern  from  east  to  west,  intersecting  each  other 
at  Greenville.  Another  branch  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line, 
from  Parmele  to  Washington,  passes  through  the  northeast- 
ern part  of  the  County  for  a  distance  of  about  eighteen  miles. 
the  "East  Carolina,  from  Tarboro  to  TTookerton,  parses 
through  the  western  part  of  the  County  for  a  distance  of 


208 


SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUNTY. 


SKETCHES    01«'    PITT    COU.NTY.  20(J 

nearly  ten  miles,  and  the  Beaufort  County  Lumber  Company 
has  a  road  from  Greenville  to  near  Vanceboro  that  dues  con- 
siderable freight  business  and  takes  passengers.  Tar  River 
enters  the  county  from  the  northwest,  and  taking  a  southeast 
course,  runs  through  the  centre,  and  is  navigable  nine-tenths 
of  the  year,  and  on  the  south  are  the  Xeuse  and  Moccasin 
rivers,  both  navigable  streams.  These  give  ample  and  quick 
transportation. 

The  history  of  Pitt  County  is  a  history  of  progress  and 
along  no  lines  has  progress,  been  greater  than  in  the  matter 
of  education.  There  are  over  (>,<)0()  white  and  5,!)00  colored 
children  in  the  County.  Ninety  per  cent  of  the  whites  are 
enrolled  and  the  average  attendance  is  eighty  per  cent.  The 
enrollment  and  attendance  of  the  colored  is  not  so  good 
Nearly  every  town  has  a  white  graded  school  and  many  white 
districts  in  the  country  employ  more  than  one  teacher.  There- 
are  132  white  teachers  and  only  four  of  these  hold  second 
grade  certificates.  Forty-five  districts  have  libraries,  contain- 
ing more  than  5,000  volume's.  There  are  fifty-seven  colored 
teachers.  The  value  of  school  property  is  near  $100,000, 
and  this  does  not  include  the  E.  C.  T.  Training  School,  which 
would  run  the  amount  up  to  fully  $300.000.  Last  year's 
school  fund  was  $33,000  and  this  does  not  include  near 
$15,000  local  school  taxes  collected.  Private  donations  to 
public  schools  amounted  to  $3,810  last  year.  All  school 
buildings  are  modern,  many  of  them  being  after  the  plan? 
approved  by  the  State. 

A  Woman's  Betterment  Association,  for  improving  and 
beautifying  school  grounds,  is  doing  a  great  work.  For  this 
work  last  year,  the  Association  collected  and  spent  $2.200. 

Perhaps  one-third  of  the  population  of  Pitt  County  claims 
chmvh  membership,  and  there  are  denominations  enough  to 
give  every  one  a  chance-  to  attend  services.  A  great  improve- 
ment has  been  made  in  church  buildings  in  late  years  and 
now  there  are  many  fine  church  edifice?  in  the  County. 
14 


210  SKETCHES    OF    PITT    COUKTY. 

Labor  conditions  are  good  and  few  landowners  fail  to  get 
good  tenants.  Tenants  often  make  good  crops  that  give  them 
surplus  money  at  the  end  of  the  year.  The  man  who  works 
makes  money.  The  principal  lahor  is  colored.  The  County 
needs  more  white  farmers,  more  white  labor,  and  offers  them 
rich  returns  for  their  labor. 

Prior  to  the  emancipation  of  the  negro,  all  American  his- 
tory was  practically  a  history  of  the  white  race.  With  eman- 
cipation the  negro  became  a  citizen  with  an  increased  interest 
in  himself  and  country.  His  sudden  advancement  without 
previous  preparation  did  not  make  him  a  better  citizen  and 
his  attempts  to  wield  powers  not  within  his  grasp  retarded 
his  advancement.  However  much  the  racial  antagonism,  the 
whites  at  once  began  to  help  him,  by  inaugurating  an  educa- 
tional era  for  him.  For  quite  a  time  his  little  education  was 
dangerous,  but  time  has  made  him  see  that  his  interest  is  the 
interest  of  all.  Therefore,  he  has  been  making  progress  edu- 
cationally, industrially,  mentally  and  morally.  Many  now 
have  fair  education,  some  have  fairly  well  equipped  them- 
selves for  teachers  and  are  uplifting  their  fellows,  many  by 
industry  and  economy  have  acquired  homes  and  are  doing 
well,  some  few  have  tried  the  professions  with  but  indifferent 
success,  and  some  few  still  have  raised  themselves  above  their 
surroundings  and  made  names  for  themselves. 

The  tax  returns  for  1900  show  the  total  valuation  for  taxa- 
tion of  all  property  of  every  kind  was  $^,395, 200.  There 
were  returned  3,120  white  polls  and  2,593  colored.  The 
property  listed  was  as  follows: 

Arms  of  Keal  Personal  T, 

Land  Estate  Property 

By  whites 37.5,244  83,718,048  §2,331,435         §6,049,483 

By  colored 16,743  236,284  110,008  352,952 


Total 391,987  83,9.54,332  82,448,103         §13,402,335 

Real  and  personal  property $0,402,335 

Railroad  and  telegraph  and  telephone 1,992,871 

Total  .  .  .    $S,3  5,20!) 


SKETCHES 


PROMINENT  PITT  COUNTY 
MEN  AND  WOMEN 


1704—1910 


ILLUSTRATED 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN     AND    WOMEN. 


213 


SKETCHES  OF  PITT  COUNTY 


TYSOX,  CKXKHAL  LAW- 
IIKXCK  DAVIS,  was  horn  on 
tlie  old  Tyson  homestead  on  the 
north  side  of  Content nea  ('reck, 
ahoiil  ten  miles  west  of  Green- 
ville  and  three  miles  east  of 
Farmville,  July  4th,  1801.  His 
father,  Richard  Lawrence  Ty- 
son, a  planter  and  merchant, 
and  his  grandfather,  Sherrod 
Tyson,  also  a  largo  planter  and 
extensive  land-owner,  \verehorn 
on  the  same  farm.  His  father 
was  a  Confederate  soldier,  en- 
listing April  4th.  1802,  in  Com- 
pany K,  Seventeenth  Xorth 
Carolina  Regiment.  lie  was  a 
non-commissioned  officer,  3d 
Sergeant  of  his  company.  His 
great-grandfather  was  a  sol- 

dier    of    the    Revolution.      His 

father   died   at   Raleigh,    X.    C.. 

.June  30th.  IS?!).  His  mother.  Mrs.  Margaret  Louise  Tyson,  horn  Sep- 
temher  '20th,  1S40,  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Moses  and  Martha  (Urilev) 
Turnage.  Her  father  was  a  large  planter  and  in  the  war  of  1812-15, 
was  a  Corporal  in  Captain  Samuel  Vines'  Company.  Her  grandfather, 
Benjamin  Hriley,  was  a  private  in  the  same  Company. 

His  father  was  very  desirous  that  his  son  should  have  the  best 
educational  advantages,  hut  the  impossibility  of  securing  good  teachers 
so  soon  after  the  civil  was,  led  him  to  move  to  Greenville*  about  1873, 
where  there  were  some  better  schools.  Afterwards  his  father  moved 
to  the  western  part  of  the  state  and  in  the  Summer  of  1S70  Lawrence 
secured  an  appointment  as  Cadet  to  the  United  States  Military  Acad- 
emy, at  West  Point.  New  York,  having  won  the  appointment  in  compe- 
tition with  eleven  others.  lie  became  a  Cadet  at  the  Academy  July  1st, 
18~fl.  and  four  years  later,  June  1st,  18S3.  was  graduated  and  appointed 
a  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  !Hh  I'nited  States  Infantry  and  sent  west. 
ITe  was  in  the  frontier  service  in  Kansas,  'Wyoming,  Ari/.ona  and  Xew 
Mexico  and  was  in  two  active  campaigns  against  ho-tile  Indians  before 
being  transferred  to  Xew  York  in  1SS7.  He  was  again  transferred,  to 
Arizona  in  1SS!>. 

In  1S!)0  he  was  appointee!  Professor  of  Military  Science  and  Tactics 
at  the  I'niversitv  of  Tennessee,  at  Knoxville.  While  discharging  this 


214  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

duty,  he  found  time  to  study  law  and  after  two  years  graduated  from 
this  University,  a  Bachelor  of  Laws.  Three  years  later  in  1895  he 
resigned  from  the  United  States  Army  and  gave  his  time  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war  in  1898,  he  offered  his 
services  to  President  McKinley,  who  appointed  him  Colonel  of  the 
Sixth  U.  S.  Volunteer  Infantry,  known  as  the  Sixth  Immunes.  After 
serving  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and  Chicamauga  Park,  Georgia,  he  was 
sent  to  Porto  Eico.  For  several  months  he  was  in  active  service  there 
and  in  command  of  a  large  portion  of  the  Island.  Returning  to  the 
United  States  he  was  mustered  out  in  the  Spring  of  1899,  and  recom- 
mended for  Brevent  Brigadier  General,  for  meritorious  services  during 
the  war. 

In  1902  he  was  elected  a  Representative  from  his  county,  Knox,  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  Tennessee,  defeating  his  opponent  by  a  handsome 
majority.  When  the  Assembly  met  in  January,  1903,  he  was  elected 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  defeating  some  very  popular 
opponents.  In  1908  he  was  a  Delegate  at-Large  from  Tennessee  to  the 
National  Democratic  Convention  at  Denver,  Colorado.  He  was  for  six 
years  Inspector  General  of  the  State  of  Tennessee  with  the  rank  of 
Brig.  General.  He  is  at  present  engaged  largely  in  manufacturing  and 
is  the  President  of  several  large  Textile  plants  and  coal  and  land  com- 
panies. At  the  North  Carolina  Home  Coming  week,  at  Greensboro, 
North  Carolina,  in  October,  1903,  he  was  a  Guest  of  Honor  and  one  of 
the  principal  speakers  for  that  occasion.  He  has  for  several  years  been 
prominent  in  the  politics  of  Tennessee  and  has  been  prominently  put 
forward  for  the  Democratic  Nomination  for  Governor  of  the  State. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  being  now  a 
vestryman  of  the  Church. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

February  10th,  18SG,  he  married  Miss  Bettie  McGhee,  daughter  of  the 
late  Col.  Charles  M.  McGhee  and  Cornelia  H.  (White)  McGhee  of  Knox- 
ville, Tennessee.  Her  father  was  a  very  prominent  railroad  man  and 
capitalist  of  Tennessee.  Her  mother's  family  have  been  very  prominent 
in  Knoxville  and  one  of  her  ancestors,  General  James  White,  founded 
the  City  of  Knoxville.  Their  children  are  Charles  McGhee  Tyson,  now 
a  Sophomore  at  Princeton  University,  and* Isabella  McGhee  Tyson,  now 
at  Miss  Spencer's  Boarding  School  for  Young  Ladies,  in  New  York  City. 


GRIMES,  GENERAL  BRYAN,  was  born  on  the  Grinicsland  farm.. 
November  "2nd,  1828.  About  17(iO  Demsie  Grimes,  a  son  of  William 
Grimes  of  Norfolk  County,  Virginia,  came  to  North  Carolina,  married 
Penelope  Cofiield,  of  Bertie,  and  settled  in  Edgecombe  on  Fishing  Creek. 
Not  long  thereafter  he  bought  much  land  on  Tar  River  in  Pitt  and 
moved  to  it,  calling  it  Avon.  William  Grimes,  the  only  son  of  Demsie 
Grimes,  married  Ann  Bryan,  daughter  of  Colonel  Joseph  Bryan  and 


1'ITT    COUNTY    MKN    AM)    \Vo.\IK.N."  _M  T> 

granddaughter  of  .John  Porter  the  first  groat  loader  <>f  the  people  in  the 
Colony  of  North  Carolina.  In  178G  he  bought  nuioh  land  lower  down  the 
river  and  named  it  Grimesland.  His  son,  Bryan  Grimes,  married 
twice,  his  first  wife  l>eing  Nancy  Grist,  daughter  of  General  Hit-hard 
Grist  and  grandaughter  of  Col.  John  Bryan  of  Craven  County.  One  of 
their  sons,  Bryan  Grimes,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Bryan  Grimes  was  educated  at  Bingham  School  and  the  I'niversily  of 
North  Carolina,  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  .June,  Is  IS. 
Soon  thereafter  his  father  gave  him  Grimesland  and  he  became  a 
planter.  Returning  from  a  visit  to  Kurope  in  1SOO,  he  found  the 
country  agitated  over  secession.  Hearing  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter,  he  hastened  to  Charleston  and  continued  his  trip  further  South, 
going  as  far  as  New  Orleans.  He  returned  in  May  to  find  himself 
already  a  candidate  with  F.  B.  Satterthwaite  for  the  State  Convention 
just  called  by  Governor  Ellis.  As  a  member  of  that  Convention,  he 
voted  for  Secession,  May  20th,  18G1,  and  a  few  days  later  resigned,  as 
he  accepted  the  appointment  by  Governor  Ellis  as  Major  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  preferring  it  to  that  of  Major  of  the  Second  or  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  Eighth,  both  of  which  were  also  ofl'ered  him.  Having 
no  military  training  his  choice  was  influenced  by  the  fact  that  George 
B.  Anderson,  a  West  Pointer,  was  Colonel  of  the  Fourth. 

Major  Grimes  joined  his  regiment  at  Garysburg.  It  soon  went  to 
Richmond,  then  to  Manassas,  arriving  there  two  days  after  the  battle. 
Colonel  Anderson  being  made  Commandant  at  Manassas,  Major  Grimes 
was  then  in  command  of  the  regiment,  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  being 
absent.  Returning  to  Richmond  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
May  oth.  His  regiment  did  conspicuous  duty  at  the  evacuation  of 
Yorktown.  At  Williamsburg,  Colonel  Anderson  was  in  command  of  the 
brigade  and  the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Grimes.  At  Seven  Pines,  May  31st,  lie  commanded  the  regi- 
ment and  out  of  twenty-five  oflicers  and  520  men,  every  oflicer,  except 
himself,  and  402  men  were  killed  or  wounded.  In  this  battle  a  cannon 
ball  took  off  the  head  of  his  horse,  and  in  falling  one  leg  was  caught 
under  the  horse.  The  regiment  wavered,  but  waving  his  sword  he 
shouted  "Forward!  Forward.''  Being  freed  from  his  dead  horse,  lie 
seized  the  flag  then  lying  on  the  ground,  all  the  bearers  and  guards 
being  killed  or  wounded,  led  the  charge  and  captured  the  works. 

June  19th,  1802,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Grimes  was  appointed  Colonel. 
At  Mechanicsville,  June  20th,  lie  had  a  horse  killed  under  him.  Over 
the  protest  of  General  Anderson  who  declared  that  "although  small  in 
numbers,  Colonel  Grimes  and  his  regiment  is  the  keystone  of  my 
Brigade,"  he  was  detailed  by  General  I).  II.  Hill  to  take  the  prisoners 
and  stores  to  Richmond.  In  July,  while  suffering  from  typhoid  fever 
he  returned  to  Raleigh,  but  was  with  his  regiment  in  time  for  the  Mary- 
land campaign,  taking  part  in  the  lights  before  crossing  the  Potomac. 
Although  unlit  for  duty  on  account  of  injury  from  a  horse's  kick,  he 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  where  he 


216  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

had  a  horse  killed  under  him.  He  was  unfit  for  duty  for  some  time  on 
account  of  the  horse  kick.  General  Anderson  was  mortally  wounded 
at  Sharpsburg,  and  Colonel  Grimes  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
brigade,  which  he  commanded  at  Fredericksburg  and  until  relieved  by 
General  Eamseur  in  February,  18G3. 

At  Chancellorsville,  May  1st,  1863,  Colonel  Grimes  commanded  his 
regiment,  which  with  a  Mississippi  regiment,  successfully  charged  up 
to  the  main  body  of  General  Hooker's  army.  When  hard  fighting  was 
at  hand  General  (Stonewall)  Jackson  would  say,  "Press  them,  Colonel." 
On  the  second  day  he  took  an  active  part  in  routing  General  Seigel's 
Corps.  On  the  third  day  a  brigade  refused  to  make  a  charge  when  so 
ordered.  Colonel  Grimes  and  General  Ramseur  volunteered  to  make  the 
charge,  climbed  the  breastworks,  formed,  charged  bayonets  and  captured 
the  works.  Thus  an  inferior  force,  without  firing  a  gun  captured  a 
greatly  superior.  In  this  charge,  Colonel  Grimes  and  his  regiment 
trampled  on  the  Brigade  that  had  refused  to  charge,  Colonel  Grimes 
trampling  upon  the  commanding  officer,  putting  one  foot  on  his  back  and 
the  other  on  his  head,  grinding  his  face  in  the  dirt.  In  this  fight 
Colonel  Grimes'  sword  was  broken  by  a  ball,  his  clothing  perforated  by 
bullets,  one  lodging  in  his  belt,  and  he  was  wounded  in  the  foot.  Out 
of  327  officers  and  men  of  this  regiment,  forty-six  were  killed  and  157 
wounded. 

In  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  about  eight  miles  from  Harrisburg  his 
regiment  completely  routed  about  500  Pennsylvania  sugar  loaf  hat 
militia,  capturing  many  hats,  but  no  militia.  On  the  first  day  at 
Gettysburg,  his  regiment  was  the  first  to  enter  the  town,  driving  the 
Federals  to  the  heights  beyond,  capturing  more  prisoners  than  it  had 
men,  and  would  have  taken  the  heights  beyond,  but  was  recalled.  On 
the  second  and  third  days,  his  regiment  did  important  service  and  on  the 
return,  he  commanded  the  rearguard. 

Declining  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  Confederate  Congress,  he 
continued  in  active  service  and  in  November,  1803,  was  again  given 
command  of  General  Ramseur's  Brigade,  while  he,  General  Ramseur, 
was  home.  He  was  again  in  command  of  his  regiment  in  the  Wilder- 
ness campaign.  On  May  12th,  1SG4,  at  a  critical  moment  without 
authority,  Ramseur  being  wounded,  he  led  a  second  charge  of  Ramseur's 
Brigade  and  captured  more  Federals  that  the  brigade  he  commanded 
had  men.  General  Junius  Daniel  had  been  mortally  wounded  and 
Colonel  Grimes  was  placed  in  command  of  his  brigade.  Throughout 
the  Wilderness  campaign  and  at  Spottsylvania  his  division  was  in  the 
thickest  of  the  battle  and  did  great  execution.  On  the  19th  General 
Rodes  complimented  him  saying,  he  had  ''saved  K well's  Corps  and  shall 
be  promoted,  and  your  commission  shall  bear  date  from  to-day."  He 
received  his  commission  as  Brigadier  General,  June  5th  it  bearing  date 
of  May  10th.  In  July  he  went  home  on  a  sick  furlough. 

At  Winchester,  September  29th  his  brigade  did  severe  fighting,  he 
had  his  horse  killed  under  him  and  but  few  of  his  staff  escaped  severe 


PITT    COUNTY     MEN     AND     YVOMKN.  ~2\7 

wounds.  At  Cedar  Crock,  when  General  Sheridan  rallied  liis  men  to 
the  return  attack  General  Grimes  made  desperate  ellOrts  to  save  the 
day,  hut  without  avail.  He  exposed  himself  reckles-ly  and  had  two 
horses  shot  under  him.  In  this  battle  General  Kamscnr  was  mortally 
wounded  and  General  Grimes  was  placed  in  command  of  his  division. 
Novcmlx-r  'J.'Jrd  his  division  routed  4.000  of  General  Sheridan's  cavalry. 
During  the  winter  lSG4-f>  his  division  was  on  duty  about  Richmond 
and  vicinity.  In  February,  180."),  he  was  commissioned  Major  General. 

In  March,  18(55,  General  Grimes'  Division  relieved  General  Bnshrod 
Johnson's  Division  in  the  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg,  defending  a 
line  of  three  and  a  half  miles  with  only  ^,'JOO  men.  March  ii;Hh  was 
made  the  last  attempt  to  break  through  General  Grant's  lines.  .lust 
before  dawn,  .'{()()  sharpshooters,  of  General  Grime-.'  Divi.-ion,  with 
empty  rifles  left  their  works,  dashed  across  an  open  .-pace  of  about  100 
yards,  surprised  and  captured  the  Federal  pickets,  mounted  the  Federal 
works  and  captured  500  Federals.  The  remainder  of  his  division  and 
other  troops  followed,  but  by  the  failure  of  General  Pickett's  I.)ivi-ion  to 
support  them,  they  had  to  fall  back  after  two  hours  of  lighting  against 
ten  to  one,  and  a  victory  was  lost. 

On  the  night  of  April  1st  Petersburg  was  evacuated.  On  the  retreat 
General  Grimes,  then  in  command  of  his  own  division  and  that  of 
General  Hushrod  Johnson  and  General  Wise's  I'riirade  was  the  rear 
guard  of  General  Lee's  army.  At  Appomattox  he  also  had  under  him 
the  divisions  of  Generals  Evans  and  Walker,  and  commanded  all  the 
infantry  actually  engaged  on  the  Oth.  That  morning  General  Gordon 
and  General  Fitz  Lee  were  undecided  which  should  make  the  attack 
on  the  Federals.  General  Grimes  became  worried  at  such  indecision 
and  delay  and  volunteered  to  lead  the  attack.  Given  that  privilege, 
he  had  placed  under  him  in  addition  to  the  troops  he  then  commanded 
the  Divisions  of  Generals  Walker  and  Evans  and  made  the  attack,  soon 
reporting  the  way  open  to  Lynchburg  for  General  Lee's  army.  He 
was  astonished  when  ordered  by  General  Gordon  to  withdraw.  This 
he  refused  to  do  until  so  ordered  by  General  Lee.  While  withdrawing 
a  superior  force  attacked  when  he  ordered  General  Cox  to  meet  it.  This 
General  Cox  did  and  repulsed  the  attack.  That  was  the  last  shot  at 
Appomattox. 

Being  informed  that  General  Lee  had  surrendered,  he  was  greatly 
mortified,  wanted  to  cut  his  way  through  the  Federal  linos  and  join 
General  J.  E.  Johnston  in  Xorth  Carolina.  Being  convinced  by  the 
protests  of  other  general  officers  that  such  action,  though  successful. 
would  be  violating  the  truce  and  a  retlection  upon  himself  and  also 
General  Lee.  he  shared  the  fate  of  General  Lee's  army  in  the  surrender. 
Accepting  his  parole,  he  returned  to  his  family  and  home,  to  help  in 
the  rebuilding  of  the  fortunes  of  his  country. 

After  living  in  Raleigh  in  18(10  and  '(17,  he  returned  to  his  Grimes- 
land  farm  where  lie  lived  the  life  of  a  successful  farmer  and  useful  and 
honored  citizen,  till  his  death,  Augu-t  14th.  1SSO.  That  day  when 


218  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

returning  from  Washington  with  twelve-year-old  Fenner  Bryan  Sat- 
terthwaite — -the  son  of  a  friend — he  was  assassinated  from  ambush  as 
he  was  crossing  Bear  Creek.  Only  one  shot  took  effect,  but  that  severed 
an  artery  and  death  resulted  at  once.  He  was  buried  in  the  family 
cemetery  at  Grimesland. 

William  Parker  was  soon  arrested  and  after  some  delay,  tried  and 
acquitted  at  Williamston  for  the  murder  of  General  Grimes.  In  a  few 
years  Parker  practically  confessed  or  boasted  of  the  killing  of  General 
Grimes,  and  one  morning  in  May,  1888,  he  was  found  hanging  from  the 
draw  of  the  Washington  bridge.  He  had  been  lynched. 

General  Grimes  was  twice  married.  April  9th.  1851,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Davis,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas  Davis,  of  Franklin  County. 
She  died  November,  1857,  leaving  one  daughter  now  the  wife  of  Samuel 
F.  Mordecai.  September  5th,  18G3,  he  married  Charlotte  Bryan,  daugh- 
ter of  John  H.  Bryan,  of  Raleigh.  She,  with  eight  children,  survive 
General  Grimes. 


SHEPPARD,  HENRY,  SR.,  was  born  in  Snow  Hill,  January  10th, 
1813.  His  father,  James  Glascow  Sheppard,  was  a  son  of  Benjamin 
Sheppard.  His  mother  was  Mary  J.  Harper,  who  married  James 
Glascow  Sheppard  after  the  death  of  W.  H.  Armstrong,  her  first 
husband.  She  died  when  Henry  was  only  three  years  old.  He  attended 
the  Snow  Hill  school  until  his  father  moved  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  in 
1827,  and  put  him  into  a  printing  office.  An  only  brother,  Harper 
Sheppard,  became  a  very  prominent  lawyer  and  newspaper  man  in 
Tennessee. 

Henry  was  very  anxious  to  return  to  North  Carolina  and  the  day 
he  was  twenty-one,  began  the  journey  on  horseback,  through  the  snows 
of  a  severe  winter.  Arriving  at  Greenville  he  accepted  a  position  in 
the  store  of  Slierrod  Tyson,  sr.  Two  years  later  became  a  partner  with 
his  employer  in  a  business  at  the  Tyson  place  about  ten  miles  west  of 
Greenville.  Marrying  a  daughter  of  his  partner  in  1841,  he  quit  mer- 
chandising and  went  to  fanning. 

In  1849  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  County  Court,  being  the  first 
democrat  elected  in  many  years.  He  was  four  times  reelccted,  but 
had  to  resign  in  ISIil  on  account  of  ill  health,  but  was  soon  thereafter 
a  war  candidate  for  the  legislature,  being  defeated  by  Dr.  E.  J.  Blount, 
a  Union  man.  Having  several  times  refused  to  become  a  candidate 
for  any  office,  in  1874  he  accepted  the  nomination  for  Clerk  of  the 
Superior  Court.  He  was  elected  and  also  the  entire  democratic  ticket, 
it  being  the  first  elected  since  the  war.  In  1878,  owing  to  confusion  in 
the  convention,  a  later  convention  nominated  B.  W.  Bro\vn  for  Clerk. 
Sheppard  claimed  the  nomination  by  the  first  convention,  went  before 
the  people  and  was  elected,  lie  died  October  30th,  1881,  lacking  one 
year  of  completing  the  term,  and  one  year  of  having  served  in  the  same 
office  twentv  vears.  lie  was  buried  at  the  old  homestead. 


PITT    COUNTY     MEN     AND     WOMKN.  '_'  1  0 

"As  an  officer  lie  was  always  courteous,  obliging  and  efficient.  As  a 
public  man,  he  was  of  a  retiring  honest  nature.  *  *  *  "He  was 
conservative  in  politics.  *  *  *  "In  bis  private  life  lie  was  a  devoted 
husband  and  father,  a  true  friend  and  a  generous  open-handed,  all'ee- 
tionate  man.  He  was  devoted  to  his  county  and  State." 

He  was  married  three  times.  January  21st,  1S-11,  he  married  Mar- 
garet Ann,  daughter  of  S  her  rod  Tyson,  sr.  They  had  twelve  children. 
The  first  died  young.  Elizabeth  (married  .1.  T.  Williams),  .lames  G., 
15.  S.,  Mary,  Alice,  Pattie,  Henry,  Margaret,  Su<an  }•'..,  William,  Alex- 
ander. Mrs.  Sheppard  died  in  lSf>3  and  in  1805  he  married  Mrs.  Ann 
E.  Turnage,  widow  of  licnjamin  Turnage  and  a  daughter  of  Dr.  N'eal. 
They  had  two  children,  Lawrence  15.  and  Harper  D.  She  died  in  1S70 
and  in  1875  he  married  Ella  Williams,  daughter  of  Richard  Williams. 
They  had  two  children,  Annie  W.  and  Ilernie. 


WILLIAMS,  DR.  ROBERT,  Surgeon  in  the  Revolution,  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Williams,  a  Welshman,  who  settled  in  Pennsylvania  in  17-0 
and  came  to  North  Carolina  in  1727,  settling  on  Tar  River,  near  the 
Falkland  landing,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Hughes  land,  buying 
several  thousand  acres  of  land  from  the  Karl  of  Cranville.  He  was 
married  four  times,  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  live  years  old,  and 
left  many  descendants. 

There  near  Falkland,  Robert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
August  25th,  175S.  He  received  the  best  educational  advantages  of 
the  times  and  completed  his  medical  studi'es  in  Richmond  and  Philadel- 
phia. In  March.  1770,  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  be  became 
surgeon  in  the  American  army,  at  Camp  Liberty  Town.  Tie  at  once 
made  requisition  for  all  the  medicines  to  be  bad  and  this  no  doubt 
brought  him  to  the  notice  of  the  State  authorities,  for  in  the  following 
October  he  was  appointed  surgeon.  This  brought  out  the  fact  that  he 
had  been  acting  since  the  previous  March  and  therefore  he  was  ordered 
paid  from  that  date.  Little  is  known  of  his  services,  but  be  was  with 
the  militia  at  Guilford  Court  House  March  15th.  1781,  when  General 
Greene  practically  defeated  Lord  Cormvallis.  After  the  Revolution  he 
retired  to  his  farm  and  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  a  repre- 
sentative in  the  General  Assembly  in  1780  and  17S7.  lie  was  a  member 
of  the  Convention  at  Hillsboro,  July  21st,  1783,  that  rejected  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States.  After  this  he  was  a  representative  in 
the  General  Assembly  in  1791:  and  Senator  in  1703-4-5.  1S02-3.4. 
5-0-8-13-14.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  convention 
which  met  at  Raleigh  June  4th,  1835. 

During  all  this  period  he  did  an  extensive  practice,  his  home  being 
practically  a  hospital  or  sanitarium,  patroni/ed  by  the  people  of  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State.  And  too  lie  found  tinio  for  other  dutie-. 
taking  interest  in  his  farm  and  educational  matters,  being  a  tru-tee 
of  Pitt  Academy  from  its  charter  in  178G. 


220  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

He  died  October  12th,  1840,  "loved  for  his  virtues  and  respected  for 
his  services." 

He  was  married  three  times.  His  first  wife,  whom  he  married  in 
1781,  was  Fannie  Randolph,  of  Virginia. 

His  second  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1792,  was  Xancy  Haywood,  of 
Edgecombe  County. 

His  third  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1804,  was  Elizabeth  Ellis,  also 
of  Edgecombe  County. 

He  was  the  father  of  fourteen  children,  two  by  his  first  wife,  three 
bv  his  second  and  nine  bv  his  third. 


SALTER,  EDWARD.  There  were  three  Edwards  in  the  Salter 
family  and  one  or  more  was  conspicuous  in  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
times.  Edward  sr.,  settled  at  Tuscarora,  now  the  Mrs.  F.  C.  Saunders 
farm,  where  Edward  jr.  was  born.  Edward  jr.  had  three  sons,  Edward, 
John  and  Robert. 

It  is  very  probable  that  Edward  jr.  was  a  "Commissioner  of  Peace" 
for  Beaufort  and  also  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1731;  was  a  River 
and  Road  Commissioner,  1745;  Salter's  landing  made  place  of  inspec- 
tion of  tobacco,  with  warehouse  1752:  remonstrated  against  conduct 
of  certain  Justices  of  the  Peace  1704:  Clerk  of  the  Court  1772. 

Edward  jr.  and  his  son  Edward  were  no  doubt  both  members  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  last  Edward  was  the 
member  of  the  County  Committee  recommended  by  the  Continental 
Congress;  clerk  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  1774;  delegate  to  New 
Berne  August  25th,  1774,  and  member  of  committee  to  notify  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Province  that  Pitt  had  organized  committee,  &e. ; 
delegate  to  Provincial  meeting  at  Xew  Berne  April  3rd,  1774,  and  mem- 
ber of  Assembly  that  met  regularly  next  day;  was  at  Tarboro  when 
learned  of  negro  insurrection  and  sent  timely  warnings,  July,  1775; 
member  Provincial  Congress  and  on  District  Committee  of  Safety; 
member  Halifax  convention  that  instructed  for  Independence,  April, 
1770;  member  Halifax  convention  November,  177G,  that  formed  State 
Constitution;  member  Senate  1779-80-S1-S2 ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  of 
Pitt  regiment  1779  in  place  of  George  Evans;  captured  Tory  supplies 
in  Edgecombe  intended  for  Lord  Cornwallis'  army  1781. 

The  date  of  the  birth  and  death  of  all  are  unknown. 


.MAY,  MAJOR  BEXJAMIX,  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  born  in 
17l!(i;  came  to  Xorth  Carolina  and  settled  in  Pitt  County,  on  south 
side  of  Contentnea,  creek,  about  two  miles  west  of  the  present  town 
of  Farmville;  was  ''Saddler  to  the  County  and  Province"  in  1707; 
member  of  Committee  of  Safety  1774,  and  also  member  of  the  County 
Committee  agreeable  to  the  recommendation  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress: was  one  of  the  committee  to  build  the  court  house  and  jail  at 


PITT    COl'NTY    MK.N     AM>    WOMEN.  221 

Martinborough  1774;  Captain  of  Company  of  Patrollers  177.");  was  one 
of  those  appointed  by  (he  Halifax  Provincial  Congress  (o  receive  anus, 
ammunition,  &c. :  member  of  the  Halifax  Convention,  November  177(i, 
that  formed  the  State  Constitution;  .Inly,  177!',  appointed  1st,  Major 
of  Pitt  regiment;  said  to  have  been  in  the  battle  of  Cuilford  Court 
House,  February  loth,  1781,  commanding  militia:  after  loni:  service; 
resigned  as  Justice  of  the  Peaee  178-1;  trustee  of  Pitt  Aeademy  17S(i; 
member  House  of  Commons  from  1S04  to  his  death  ISO!). 

Major  May  was  married  three  times  and  left  a  large  family.  His 
first  wife  was  Alary  Tyson,  daughter  of  Cornelius  Tyson,  an  earlv  1'ilt 
county  settler  and  very  large  land  owner.  They  had  three  sons; 
Benjamin,  jr.  (married  Mary  or  Penelope  Grimes  or  perhaps  both) 
William,  (married  Susan  Forl>es)  .lames,  (married  Harriett  Williams) 
and  several  daughters,  one  of  whom,  Mary,  married  Colonel  Samuel 
Vines.  He  had  no  children  bv  his  other  wives. 


SALTER,  COLONEL  ROBERT,  was  seeond  ><m  of  Kdward  Salter  jr. 
and  early  prominent  in  local  affairs.  In  1770  reported  from  Tarboro 
that  Regulators  were  going  to  Xe\v  Berne  to  interfere  with  the  A-scm- 
bly ;  raised  a  company  of  infantry  against  Regulators  1771:  joined 
Governor  Tryon's  army  at  Colonel  Bryan's,  100  mile--  west  of  New 
Berne  and  was  in  review  at  Smith  Ferry  next  day,  May  ,'ird  :  did  picket 
duty  with  his  company  May  7th,  and  as  baggage  guard  May  Sth:  at 
Alamance  May  IGth:  appointed  sheriff  same  year,  1771:  reported  de- 
linquent, as  sheriff  in  the  sum  of  408  C  '2s  3d  in  177.'5:  member  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  1774  and  on  committee  to  receive  donations  for  help  of 
Boston;  member  Provincial  Congress  at  Ilillsboro,  appointed  Commis- 
sary for  New  Berne  District  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  Pitt  militia, 
member  committee  of  "Secrecy,  Intelligence  and  Observation,"  177.") : 
was  near  Wilmington  with  his  company  and  probably  in  Battle  of 
Moo  re."  s  Creek;  resigned  as  commissary  and  succeeded  by  James  Salter 
1770;  was  at  Tarboro  when  he  learned  of  plot  of  Tories  to  murder 
prominent  men  and  officials;  member  of  Senate,  recruiting  ollicer  1777; 
commanded  militia  escort  of  commissioners  to  run  the  line  between 
Xorth  Carolina  and  Virginia  1779:  died  Mav.  177!'. 


ARMSTRONG,  GENERAL  JAMES,  was  member  of  Pitt  County  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  and  one  of  those  named  to  solicit  donations  for  the 
relief  of  the  people  of  Boston:  December  Oth,  177-1.  was  member  of  the 
County  Committee  which  was  elected  "agreeable  1o  the1  directions  of  the 
Continental  Congress":  elected  Second  Major  of  Pitt  militia.  177">:  wa- 
one  of  the  Committee  of  "Secrecy,  Intelligence  and  Observation'';  was 
promoted  Colonel.  1777,  and  in  active  service  about  Philadelphia,  where 
the  losses  of  his  regiment  were  so  great  that  it  was  consolidated  with 
Colonel  Patton's  regiment,  and  he  returned  home. 


222  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

He  was  soon  again  in  active  service;  was  in  command  of  a  regiment 
at  Stono  Ferry,  S.  C.,  June  20tli,  1779,  and  severely  wounded;  pre- 
sided at  a  Court  of  Inquiry,  that  acquitted  Gideon  Lamb,  with  honor, 
of  charges  against  his  conduct  at  Brandywine;  allowed  the  use  of 
$50,000.00  by  the  Assembly  for  recruiting  purposes,  about  Cross  Creek; 
resigned  from  army  June  1781,  allowed  half  pay  and  put  in  charge  of 
recruiting  at  home. 

On  resignation  of  Brigadier  General  William'  Caswell,  was  elected 
Brigadier  General  by  the  Assembly  for  New  Berne  district,  but  General 
Caswell  was  reinstated;  was  member  of  State  Council  1784;  was 
elected  by  the  Assembly  of  1780,  Brigadier  General  for  New  Berne 
district;  Trustee  Pitt  Academy,  1786;  member  of  House  of  Commons 
1789;  member  of  Fayetteville  Convention  1789,  voting  for  ratification 
of  Federal  Constitution;  was  one  of  the  committee  for  building  court 
house,  under  Blount  bill,  1789;  member  Senate  1790. 

Died  late  in  1794  or  early  in  1795. 

Family  name  has  disappeared  from  Pitt  County  and  most  descendants 
are  to  be  found  further  South. 


BLOUNT,  WILLIAM,  became  a  citizen  of  Pitt  County,  when  a  part 
of  Craven  County  was  added  to  Pitt  in  1780.  He  was  probably  born 
in  Beaufort  county;  was  member  of  House  of  Commons  from  Craven 
1780;  member  Continental  Congress  1782-83;  member  House  Commons 
1783-84;  member  of  Continental  Congress  1780-87;  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor .Richard  Caswell  his  substitute  to  the  Convention  at  Philadelphia 
in  1787  that  formed  the  Federal  Constitution;  member  State  Senate 
from  Pitt  1788-89;  at  session  of  1788  seconded  motion  for  a  second 
Convention  to  consider  the  Federal  Constitution;  introduced  bill  for 
new  court  house  for  Pitt  at  1789  session  and  was  on  committee  for 
building  same;  member  of  Fayetteville  Convention  of  1789,  that  ratified 
the  Federal  Constitution. 

In  1790,  when  the  Territory  South  of  the  Ohio,  (Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee) was  organized  President  Washington  appointed  him  Governor. 
He  was  President  of  the  Convention  of  Tennessee  in  1790  and  on  the 
admission  of  Tennessee,  was  one  of  its  first  (two)  United  States  Sena- 
tors; September  8th  1797  was  expelled  from  the  Senate,  for  alleged 
instigation  of  the  Creek  and  Cherokee  Indians  to  assist  the  British  in 
conquering  Spanish  territories  near  the  United  States;  elected  member 
of  the  Tennessee  Senate,  and  made  President  thereof,  while  the  United 
States  Senate  was  impeaching  him. 

He  died  at  Knoxville  March  10th,  1810,  aged  lifty-six  years.  Time 
has  vindicated  his  action  that  led  to  his  impeachment  and  added  more 
honor  to  his  memory.  He  married  a  Miss  Granger  of  Wilmingt.m  and 
one  son  was  highly  honored  by  the  people  of  Tennessee. 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN    AND    WOMK.V. 

EVAN'S,  RICHARD,  on  whoso  land  the  town  of  Martinborough  was 
laid  off  under  an  net  of  the  Assembly  of  1771.  was  a  memlx-r  of  (lie 
Assembly  1708-09-71.  He  introduced  the  bill,  which  failed  to  pass  the 
first  .session,  but  did  pass  at  the  next. 

In  the  supplementary  Act  of  1774  for  removing  the  court  house  to 
Martinborough,  he  was  one  of  the  committee  named  for  that  purpose. 
Ho  died  in  1784  or  178"). 


F.VANS,  MAJOR  GKOKGK,  was  member  uf  Committee  of  Safety  and 
other  special  committees;  member  of  Assembly  I""'!;  member  of  ('ounty 
Committee  directed  by  Continental  Congress  1774:  memlwr  committee 
for  moving  court-house  1774;  1st  Major  Pitt  Militia  1770;  member 
Halifax  Convention,  November  177ti,  that  formed  State  Constitution; 
declined  election  as  Lieutenant  Colonel,  which  was  accepted  by  Kdward 
Salter:  meml>cr  House  of  Commons  1781;  date  of  death  unknown. 


GORHAM,  GENKRAL  JAMES,  and  two  brothers  came  from  Kngland. 
Arriving  in  Pamlico  river,  he  sold  his  ship  and  cargo,  and  bought  land 
about  Strawberry  Hill.  He  also  bought  much  land  higher  up  the  river, 
among  which  was  that  now  known  as  the  Charles  Vines,  Swain  and 
Gorham  places. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  of  other  important 
committees;  was  a  delegate  to  New  Berne  April  3rd  177.1;  member  of 
the  Hillsboro  Provincial  Congress  1775;  and  was  made  Major  of  the 
District  Minute  Men;  petitioned  for  the  discharge  of  Mr.  Claw-on  from 
teaching  dancing,  March  2.3rd  1770;  appointed  to  receive  arms,  ammu- 
nition, &c;  member  Halifax  Convention  November  12th  1770;  reduced 
to  ranks  and  without  command,  1777;  member  House  of  Commons  177'J; 
was  with  General  Sumner's  Brigade  at  Ramsey's  Mills  on  Deep  River, 
in  command  of  volunteers — 01  infantry  and  19  light  horse;  commanded 
400  militia,  with  rank  of  General,  at  Peacock's  Bridge  1781,  in  skirmish 
with  Tarleton  and  800  British;  member  House  Commons  1781-82; 
trustee  Pitt  Academy  1780.  Died  at  Strawberrv  Hill. 


SIMPSON,  GENERAL  JOHN,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  was  horn 
March  1st  1728,  and  early  in  life  settled  in  Pitt  County  (then  Rcauf.irt) 
on  Tar  river,  about  six  miles  below  what  is  now  Greenville,  naming  his 
place  Chatham.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  public  ail'airs  of  his  day 
anil  was  a  lieutenant  of  Militia  in  Captain  John  Hardee's  Company  in 
17f>7.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  1700  and  took  a  pn-mi 
nent  part  in  having  Beaufort  County  divided,  the  upper  part  becoming 
Pitt  County.  Petitions  for  a  new  county  were  presented  to  the  A-sem- 
bly  at  the  first  session  of  that  year,  but  the  matter  was  postponed  to 
the  November  session,  when  Simpson  presented  a  bill  for  the  purpose 


224  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

of  creating  Pitt  County.  It  passed  and  he  was  named  as  one  of  the 
committee  for  building  the  court  house,  prison,  pillory  and  stocks. 
He  was  its  first  sheriff  and  one  of  the  commissioners  to  run  the  line 
between  Pitt  and  Dobbs  counties  in  1763.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  for  the  years  1764-5-6-7-8-9,  though  he  must  have  been 
Register  of  Deeds  for  part-of  the  time  as 'Governor  Try  on  so  appointed 
him  November  20th,  1706.  His  place  on  Tar  river  was  made  a  place 
for  the  inspection  of  Tobacco  in  1764.  In  1768  he  and  some  others,  he 
being  the  leader,  prevented  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  doing  any  business 
and  therefore  prevented  the  regular  levy  of  taxes.  For  this  complaint 
was  made  to  the  Assembly  by  William  Moore  and  probably  others. 
He  was  then  a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  for  this  action  he  was 
called  to  the  Bar  of  the  Assembly  and  censured  by  the  Speaker.  Soon 
thereafter  he  was  granted  leave  of  absence  and  remained  away  for 
the  Session.  But  when  it  was  known  that  some  Regulators  were  about 
to  march  to  New  Berne  to  interfere  with  the  proceedings  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  1770,  he  offered  his  services,  with  358  militia,  of  which  he  was 
Colonel,  to  Governor  Tryon,  to  oppose  them. 

March  13th,  1771,  Governor  Tryon  appointed  him  sheriff  and  he  was 
active  in  raising  a  company  against  the  Regulators,  which  was  at 
Alamance  under  Captain  Robert  Salter.  November  13th,  same  year. 
Governor  Martin  appointed  him  Register  of  Deeds.  His  schooner,  John 
and  Elizabeth  was  captured  by  the  Spanish  at  Vera  Cruz  and  nothing 
heard  from  it  in  some  time  and  when  the  facts  became  known  he  wanted 
the  government  to  get  him  pay  for  his  losses.  The  government  did  not 
do  so,  so  he  lost  much  by  it.  This  was  in  1772.  He  was  in  the  Assem- 
bly of  1773  and  a  delegate  appointed  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  to 
New  Berne  August  25th,  1774.  There  he' was  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee to  notify  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Province  that  the 
County  Committee  had  organized  and  was  al-o  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee recommended  by  the  Continental  Congress,  and  made  its  chair- 
man. 

He  was  sent  by  the  County  Committee  of  Safety  to  the  meeting  at 
New  Berne  April  3rd,  1775.  and  was  also  a  regularly  elected  repre- 
sentative in  the  Assembly  that  met  at  same  place  April  4th,  (next  day). 
He  took  an  active  part  in  suppressing  the  negro  insurrection  of  July 
same  year  and  was,  a  member  of  the  Hillsboro  Provincial  Congress 
August  20th,  1775.  He  had  long  been  Colonel  of  the  County  Militia 
and  he  was  now  continued  in  that  position  by  the  new  authorities,  and 
also  made  chairman  of  the  County  Committee  and  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  '"Secrecy,  Intelligence  and  Observation."  He  was  a  member 
of  the  M'cond  Provincial  Congress  of  1775;  of  the  Halifax  convention, 
April  1776  and  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Peace:  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  IJi>trict  Committee  of  Safety,  dec  Roger  Ormoml.  deceased,  lie 
complained  to  the  Congress  of  1777  of  the  lack  of  arms  and  ammunition. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  llmi-e  in  177*.  rice  William  Robeson,  resigned: 
member  of  Ifon-e  177'.!,  but  roiuriod  on  being  elected  member  of  the 


PITT    COUNTY    MKX    AM)    AVO.MKN. 

State  Council;  was  elected  Brigadier  General  in  17SO;  member  of  State 
Senate  in  1781  and  of  House  in  17S2.  When  Pitt  Academy  \v;is  in- 
corporated in  1780,  lie  was  one  of  the  Trustees;  was  memlx-r  of  State 
Senate  in  1780;  having  never  had  pay  for  his  services  in  the  A>sembly 
of  1782,  the  Assembly  of  1787  paid  him  for  the  same.  He  died  March 
1st,  1788,  aged  sixty  years  less  some  days. 

He  married  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  of  John  Hardee.  Their  children 
were  Mary  Randall,  Susannah,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Alice,  .John  Hardee, 
Ann,  Joseph,  and  Sarah.  Susannah  married  Lawrence  Q' Bryan.  Ann 
married  John  Eason  and  Sarah  married  Dr.  Joseph  Brickell.  The 
others  never  married. 


HARDKE,  COLONEL  JOHN,  is  first  mentioned  as  a  member  of  the 
River  and  Road  Commission  in  1745,  the  powers  of  which  Commission 
were  enlarged  in  1752  to  include  the  making  navigable  other  streams, 
creeks,  &c.  He  was  Captain  of  a  Company  of  Militia  in  1754  and  also 
a  member  of  the  Assembly.  When  the  County  was  formed  in  1700  the 
court  house,  prison,  pillory  and  stocks  were  to  be  built  on  his  lands 
and  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  that  work.  Court  was  held  in 
his  house  until  the  court  house  could  be  built,  and  the  freeholders  met 
at  his  house  to  elect  vestrymen  for  the  newly  erected  Parish  t»  be 
known  as  St.  Michael's  Parish.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of 
1702  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1704.  That  year  Edward  Salter 
found  complaint  against  him  and  some  others  as  Justices  and  com- 
plained to  the  Assembly.  This  was  met  by  a  counter  complaint  against 
Salter  and  no  more  was  heard  of  the  matter. 

He  was  chairman  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  freeholders  in  opposition 
to  British  oppression  and  a  member  of  the  committee  to  notify  the 
Provincial  Standing  Committee  that  a  county  Committee  had  been 
organized  and  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  recommended  by  the 
Continental  Congress.  In  the  Minutes  of  the  meetings  of  the  County 
Committee  of  July  17th,  1775.  is  the  following:  ''Captain  John  Hardees 
Comp'y  meat  &  Choose  Different  Ollicers  as  under  Mentioned  in  too 
Companies — Viz, 

Wm.  Burney,  Capt. 
Isaac  Hardec,  Lewtcnant. 
Isaac  Hardee,  Ensign. 
Wm.  Tillghman,  Capt, 
Samuel  Cherrie,  Lieutenant, 
Nathan  Cannon,  Ensign." 

On  the  divison  of  his  company  under  different  Captains,  he  was  no 
doubt  then  promoted  Colonel. 

He  died  December  12th,  17S4,  aged  77  years,  8  months  and  25  days. 
He  married  Susannah  Tyson. 
15 


SKKTCJIKS    OF    PROMINENT 


BROWN,  JULIUS,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Greenville  Bar,  is  a 
son  of  Fernando  Brown,  who 
married  Miss  Ann  M.,  daughter 
of  the  late  IT.  W.  Martin,  sr. 
His  father  is  a  son  of  the  late 
Rev.  Samuel  Brown.  Julius 
was  born  November  18th,  1880, 
near  Bethel.  He  was  reared  on 
the  farm.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  Bethel  High 
School  and  the  University  of 
North  Carolina. 

In  the  Fall  of  1902  he  re- 
ceived license  to  practice  law 
and  located  at  Bethel.  After 
three  years  of  successful  prac- 
tice there  he  removed  to  Green- 
ville, in  1005.  Since  locating 
at  Greenville  he  has  devoted 
himself  strictly  to  his  profes- 
sion and  is  enjoying  a  lucrative 

and  growing  business.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat  and  though  he  has 
never  sought  oflice  his  friends  put  him  forward  for  the  nomination  for 
representative  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1906,  and  he  received  a 
most  flattering  vote  in  the  convention. 

He  comes  of  a  Methodist  family.     He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow  and 
a  Pythian.     He  has  held  many  important  lodge  positions. 

He  is  a  good  lawyer,  a  strong  advocate,  a  man  that  makes  friends. 


BROWN,  REVEREND  SAMUEL,  was  born  in  Martin  county,  Sep- 
tember 20th,  1818.  He  was  a  son  of  James  and  Millie  Brown,  who 
came  from  New  Jersey  to  Martin  county.  James  Brown  was  a  son 
of  Alexander  and  Rebecca  Brown,  who  settled  in  New  Jersey  from 
England.  While  Alexander  was  English,  Rebecca  was  of  Scotch  parent- 
age. They  came  from  England  about  1760.  Alexander  was  a  soldier 
of  the  Revolution. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  Samuel  came  to  Pitt  county,  locating 
near  what  is  now  Bethel.  Soon  thereafter  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ann, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Little.  She  died  in  1865,  and  a  few  years  after 
her  death,  he  married  Miss  Rillie  Hopkins. 

He  lived  and  died  on  his  farm,  though  for  many  years  he  held  the 
position  of  County  Surveyor.  For  more  than  forty  years  he  was  an 
active  Methodist  minister,  though  he  had  retired  several  years  previous 
to  his  death.  He  was  a  strong  and  enthusiastic  Mason.  He  was  well 
and  favorahlv  known  in  Pitt  and  adjoining  counties.  Though  he  did 


1'ITT    COUNTY    MEN    AM>    WOMK.N.  227 

not  enlist  in  the  army  lie  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  "Lost  Cause." 
He  died  December  17th,  1907,  leaving  many  descendants  among  whom 
were  five  great-great  grand  children^" 

His  children  by  his  first  wife  were  Fannie  who  married  Robert  Ward 
and  after  his  death  married  Warren  Andrews,  F.  L.  who  married 
Sallie  Ward,  John  K.  who  married  Mary  F.  Martin,  Fernando,  who 
married  Ann  M.  Martin,  and  Areenia,  who  married  \V.  W.  Andrews, 
and  two  girls,  who  died  young;  by  his  second  wife  there  were  two 
children  one  dying  young,  the  other,  Bettie,  who  married  John  Keel. 

F.  L.  and  John  F.  were  in  the  Confederate  army.  Fernando  \va3 
too  young  for  the  service. 


HARDING,  FORDYCF  CUNNINGHAM,  son  of  Major  Henry  and 
Susan  Harding,  was  born  at  Aurora,  Beaufort  County,  February  12th, 
1879.  He  finished  his  education  at  the  University  of  North  Carolina, 
graduating  in  1898.  In  the  meantime  he  had  taught  several  schools. 

He  then  read  law  at  the  University  and  was  licensed  in  He  then 

began  practice  i:i  Greenville    (his  parents  had  lived  there  since   1885) 

years  later  his  brother,  W.   F.  Harding,  having  finished  his 

education  and  law  course,  was  associated  with  him   in  the  practice  of 

law.     In    his  brother  located  at  Charlotte,  since  which   he  has 

practiced  alone.  Although  he  had  never  been  very  active  politically, 
recognizing  his  worth  in  1906,  after  having  been  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  County  Executive  Committee,  he  was  elected  county  chair- 
man, which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Greenville  Graded  Schools.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  a  Pythian  and  an  Odd  Fellow, 
in  all  of  which  he  is  a  prominent  and  useful  man. 

In   he  married  Mary  Harding,  daughter  of  the  late  Fred 

Harding.     Thev  have  one  child — a  girl. 


LAUGHINGHOUSE,  CHARLES  O'HAGAN,  son  of  J.  J.  and  Eliza 
Laughinghouse,  was  born  in  Greenville,  February  25th,  1871.  His 
father  is  a  large  farmer  and  prominent  in  public  affairs,  having  held  a 
number  of  positions,  been  a  member  of  the  Legislature  (House),  and  is 
now  Superintendent  of  the  State  Penitentiary.  His  mother  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  C.  J.  O'Hagan,  a  Greenville  physician  of  na- 
tional reputation.  He  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  near  Grimesland, 
and  was  educated  at  Chocowinity,  Homer's  and  the  University  of 
North  Carolina.  He  began  reading  medicine  under  his  grandfather, 
and  then  attended  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  graduating  in  1893. 
He  then  came  to  Greenville  and  began  practice  with  his  grandfather. 
A  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Medical  Society,  lie  was  chairman 
of  the  Section  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery  in  1895.  He  was  essayist 
of  the  Society  in  1897:  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Medical  Ex- 


228 


SKETCHES    OP    PROMINENT 


aminers  from  1902  to  1908,  being  President  of  the  Board  from  1904 
to  1900;  chairman  of  the  Section  of  Medical  Jurisprudence  and  State 
Medicine  in  1910,  and  also  a  delegate  to  the  meeting  of  the  American 
Medical  Association  in  1910.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Seaboard 
Medical  Association  since  1903. 

Dr.  Laughinghouse  is  a  democrat  and  has  served  both  his  town  and 
county,  at  different  periods,  more  than  once  as  superintendent  of 
health.  He  was  elected  county  coroner  in  1900,  and  has  served  as  such 
four  terms,  and  was  (1910)  elected  for  a  fifth  term,  having  no 
opponent.  Though  devoting  his  time  almost  exclusively  to  medicine,  he 
is  interested  in  several  important  enterprises.  He  wrts  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Greenville  Banking  and  Trust  Company;  is  interested 
in  the  National  Bank,  in  the  Pitt  Lumber  and  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany and  in  the  Reflector  Publishing  Company.  He  is  a  Mason,  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  a  Pythian. 

In  1896,  he  married  Carrie,  daughter  of  W.  H.  Dail,  a  prominent 
business  man  and  farmer  of  Snow  Hill.  Thev  have  three  children. 


FLAXAGAX,  ROY  CHET- 
\YVXD.  son  of  John  and  Mary 
Wise  Flanagan,  was  born  in 
Greenville,  X.  C.,  June  12th, 
1873.  His  father  was  a  Con- 
federate soldier,  was  Treasurer 
of  Pitt  County  for  a  number  of 
terms,  and  founded  the  John 
Flanagan  Buggy  Company. 
]Iis  grandfather,  Thomas 
Flanagan,  was  a  farmer  and  a 
private  in  Capt.  Samuel  Vines' 
company  in  the  War  of  1812- 
15.  His  great-grandfather. 
Fdward  Flanagan,  was  a  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolution,  His 
mother  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Captain  John  Stanley 
Gaskill,  master  and  owner  of 
the  three-masted  brig  "Samuel 
L.  Mitchell,"  and  was  lost  at 
sea  witli  all  the  crew  August 

24th,    1S4S.   between   Xe\v    York   and   the   Bahama   Islands. 

Mr.     Flanagan    received    his    preparatory    education    at    the    common 

schools  of  Greenville  and  at  the  Greenville  Academy.     In   1S91  he  went 

to  Washington,   D.  C. 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN    AND    WOMKN.  2'20 

Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  Government 
Printing  Office.  While  fillmg  this  position  lie  attended  Georgetown 
University,  reading  law  at  night,  graduating  with  the  class  of  1003 
with  the  degree  of  LL.B.  The  Summer,  of  1003  attended  I'nivorsity 
of  North  Carolina,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Fall  of  1003  upon 
examination  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  North  Carolina.  On  receipt  of 
his  license  to  practice  law  he  located  at  his  old  home,  Greenville.  The 
next  year,  1904,  lie  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Greenville,  X.  ('.,  by 
President  Roosevelt,  and  was  reappointed  in  1908.  lie  is  a  Republican 
in  politics.  In  1904  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  Republican  Execu- 
tive  Committee  and  has  been  unanimously  chosen  each  year  since  to 
this  position.  In  1902  there  were  33  Republican  votes  cast  in  the 
county,  in  1908  there  were  8SO.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a  Pythian  and  a  Red  Man,  being  now  a  member  of  the  Great 
Board  of  Appeals  of  the  Great  Council  of  Red  Men  of  North  Carolina, 
lie  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  (  hurch,  and  is  now  a  vestryman  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Greenville,  X.  C.  lie  is  President  of  the  Home 
Building  and  Loan  Association  and  a  bank  director.  In  1004  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Helen  Perkins,  daughter  of  J.  J.  Perkins,  of  Green- 
ville. X.  C.  Thev  have  two  children. 


O'HAGAX,  CHARLES  JAMES,  was  born  in  Londonberry,  Ireland. 
September  Kith.  1821.  His  father.  .Tohn  P.  O'llagan,  was  a  newspaper 
man  of  that  city. 

He  was  educated  at  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  1842. 
He  soon  came  to  Xorth  Carolina  and  made  Greenville  his  home, 
though  he  taught  .school  in  the  country  several  years.  He  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  1845,  and  two  years  later  entered  the  Xcw  York 
Medical  College,  from  which  lie  graduated  in  1855,  having  worked  his 
way  through  the  college  by  studying,  spending  one  year  in  college 
and  practicing  in  Greenville  the  next,  and  thus  rotating  till  gradu- 
ation. Then  he  devoted  himself  to  the  practice,  making  Greenville  his 
home.  He  became  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society  in  1858,  and 
later  was  its  president.  In  the  war  of  18r>l  5  he  was  first  surgeon 
of  the  Xinth  Cavalry  and  later  of  the  Thirty- fifth  Infantry.  General 
M.  W.  Ransom's  Brigade,  and  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  his  practice  at  Greenville.  He  was  a 
prominent  figure  in  reconstruction  times  and  braved  many  dangers, 
personal  and  otherwise.  Once  he,  with  several  others,  were  arrested 
and  taken  to  Goldsboro  before  a  reconstruction  tribunal,  charged 
with  various  crimes  (?).  but  nothing  detrimental  resulted  therefrom. 

In  IStiS  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  against  Joseph  Dixon.  of 
Greene  County.  It  was  a  time  of  bitterness  and  strife,  and  he  made  a 
most  wonderful  and  bold  campaign,  though  he  had  little  hope  of  elec- 


230  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

tioii.  He  served  Greenville  both  as  mayor  and  commissioner  at  differ- 
ent times.  He  rendered  services  to  his  people  and  country,  both  as  a 
private  citizen  and  public  official.  He  did  a  very  large  practice,  but  his 
liberality  and  charity  was  a  great  tax  upon  his  resources.  He  was  an 
honored  member  of  his  profession,  serving  as  president  of  the  State 
Medical  Society,  member  of  the  Board  of  Censors,  member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association  and  six  years  president  of  the  State 
Board  of  Medical  Examiners.  He  was  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Eliza  Forrest,  of  Greene  County.  His  second  was  Elvira 
Clark,  of  Pitt  County.  Both  preceded  him  to  the  grave.  There  were 
two  children  by  his  first  wife,  Eliza,  wife  of  J.  J.  Laughinghouse  and 
Martha,  and  one,  Charles  James,  Jr.,  by  the  last.  He  died  December 
18th,  1900,  and  was  buried  in  Cherry  Hill  Cemetery.  An  imposing 
granite  monument,  surmounted  by  a  tall  shaft,  erected  by  the  family, 
marks  his  grave. 

He  enjoyed  a  national  reputation  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and 
had  been  highly  honored  by  the  National  American  Medical  Associ- 
ation. 


MOYE,  DR.  ELBERT  ALFRED,  son  of  Elbert  A.  and  Mary  Move, 
was  born  near  Farmville,  July  7th,  1S69.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
served  through  the  war  of  1861-5  (Lieutenant  Co.  G.  Eighth  Regiment), 
member  of  the  Legislature  (House  1877,  Senate  1879),  and  Clerk  of  the 
Superior  Court  from  1885  to  1898.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
Newit  Edwards,  a  farmer  of  Greene  County.  His  grandfather,  Alfred 
Move,  was  a  very  prominent  whig  of  ante-bellum  days,  and  served  many 
times  in  both  branches  of  the  legislature. 

Dr.  Move  was  prepared  for  college  at  Davis's  Military  Institute,  La- 
Grange,  and  graduated  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in 
1893.  Having  taken  up  the  study  of  medicine,  he  then  entered  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College,  Philadelphia.  He  graduated  in  189R,  and  then 
remained  one  year  as  resident  physician  in  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College  Hospital.  He  came  to  Greenville  in  1897  and  since  has  en- 
joyed a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  to  which  in  1909  he  added  the 
drug  business,  having  one  of  the  most  modern  and  best-equipped  drug 
stores  in  the  State. 

Dr.  Move  lias  always  been  interested  in  the  progress  of  his  town. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Greenville  Banking  and  Trust 
Company  and  later  of  the  National  Bank,  of  which  he  is  a  director. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Pitt  Lumber  and  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  is  a  director.  He  was  also  prominent  in  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  John  Flanagan  Buggy  Company,  which  resulted  in  the 
erection  of  its  present  large  factory  and  extension  of  business.  In 
addition  to  his  practice,  drug  business  and  interest  in  several  enter- 
prises, lie  is  a  large  farmer,  practical  and  successful.  lie  is  a  mem- 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN    ANI>    \VO.M  K.\. 

her  of  the  North   Carolina  Medical   Society,   the   Pitt   County   Medical 
Society  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

In  1897,  he  married  Hortensc,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Alfred   Forbes, 
a  large   merchant   and   farmer.     They  have  two  children   living. 


COTTKN,  MRS.  SALLIE  SOUTH  ALL,  daughter  of  Col.  Thomas 
James  and  Susan  Sims  Southall,  was  born  in  Lawrenceville,  Va.,  but 
her  girlhood  was  spent  in  Murfreesboro,  N.  C.,  and  slie  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  Old  North  State.  She  was  educated  at  Greens- 
bo'ro  Female  College,  and  in  18(i(!  married  Mr.  Robert  Randolph  Cotten, 
and  in  ISGcS  moved  with  him  to  Pitt  County.  She  rendered  efficient 
service  to  North  Carolina  as  a  Lady  Manager,  both  on  National  and 
State  Boards  at  the  Chicago  World's  Fair.  Was  also  appointed  Lady 
Manager  for  her  State  at  the  expositions  of  Atlanta  and  Charleston. 
She  is  an  enthusiastic  believer  in  organized  womanhood,  and  for  years 
was  associated  with  the  Congress  of  Mothers,  in  which  she  held  many 
offices,  and  remains  now  an  Honorary  Vice-President  of  that  organiza- 
tion. She  is  active  in  the  work  of  the  N.  C.  Federation  of  Woman's 
Clubs,  and  for  many  years  has  been  President  of  the  Eiul-of-Century 
Club  of  Greenville.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the  King's  Daughters  and 
the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy. 

She  is  the  author  of  The  White  Doe — a  poem  of  some  length,  founded 
on  the  early  history  of  North  Carolina.  She  has  also  written  many 
other  poems  and  short  stories,  which  were  published  in  various  maga- 
zines, but  her  time  has  been  given  principally  to  rearing  her  children 
and  conducting  her  domestic  affairs,  and  dispensing  the  hospitality  of 
her  home,  Cottendale. 


CHERRY,  MRS.  SALLIE  ANN,  was  born  in  Beaufort  County, 
North  Carolina,  January  ....,  1829.  Her  father.  ....  Johnston, 
came  from  England  and  settled  at  Wade's  Point,  then  Hyde  County. 
He  was  a  merchant  and  was  lost  at  sea,  being  bound  for  New  York  to 
buy  merchandise.  She  was  then  about  two  years  old.  Her  mother, 
then  twice  a  widow,  married  again  and  moved  to  Greenville. 

At  Greenville  she  began  attending  school  and  was  long  a  pupil  of 
Miss  Sallie  Ann  Jones,  a  noted  educator  of  those  times.  She  then 
attended  the  Warrenton  (N.  C. )  Female  Seminary,  graduating  in 
1846,  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Her  diploma  testified  that  she  passed  "a 
thorough  public  examination  and  acquitted  herself  in  a  highly  com- 
mendatory manner,  in  the  following  branches,  vi/. :  Orthography, 
Reading,  Chirography,  Geography.  Grammar,  Arithmetic.  Composition. 
Botany,  Algebra,  Rhetoric.  Natural.  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy, 
Logic,  Geometry,  Chemistry,  Astronomy.  Nat.  Theology  and  Mythology. 
She  has  acquired  much  taste  and  skill  in  Needlework.  Drawing,  Paint- 
ing, and  in  the  execution  of  Instrumental  and  Vocal  Music."  etc.  This 


232  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

was  signed  by  N.  L.  Graves,  A.  M.,  and  Mrs.  E.  B.  W.  Graves,  Princi- 
pals, and  two  assistant  teachers.  Through  school,  she  became  one  of 
the  popular  and  brilliant  young  ladies  of  Greenville.  She  also  found 
time  to  cultivate  that  love  and  talent  for  literature  which,  but  for 
her  apparent  isolation,  might  have  won  her  fame. 

November  1,  1853,  she  married  T.  R.  Cherry,  a  prominent  young 
business  man  of  Greenville.  In  her  writings,  just  thirty  years  later, 
she  said:  "Just  thirty  years  ago  I  was  married.  *  *  *  An  only 
child,  a  quiet  life,  a  devoted  Christian  mother,  I  had  as  happy  a  heart 
as  ever  beat  in  the  bosom  of  a  bride:  never  giving  a  thought  that  was 
not  connected  with  something  pleasant."  Marriage  meant  the  cares 
of  the  wife  and  mother,  and,  devoted  to  those  duties,  she  yet  found 
time  for  literary  work.  She  became  a  contributor  to  Godey's  Lady 
Book  and  to  the  local  press.  She  was  the  first  Greenville  subscriber 
to  Demorest's  Magazine.  Failing  eyes  did  not  deter  her  in  her  work, 
and  though  totally  blind  the  last  sixteen  years  of  her  life,  she  con- 
tinued to  write  and  left  much  verse  and  reminiscence,  prized  by  her 
children. 

The  following  are  a  few  extracts  from  her  various  writings  contained 
in  "blank"  books: 

"I  live  in  Greenville,  Pitt  County,  North  Carolina;  if  you  will  take 
the  trouble  to  look  on  the  map  you  will  find  the  town  is  just  25  miles 
from  Tarboro,  which  was  at  the  time  I  speak  of  our  nearest  point  on 
the  railroad." 

"This    (Greenville)    is  a  beautiful  town,  but  no  attention  is- paid  by 

the  au •" 

"There  was  only  two  Pianos  in  the  town  and  I  don't  remember  a 
single  young  lady  that  could  play  a  tune  on  either  of  them.  They 
were  so  small  they  would  only  be  valued  now  as  curiosities." 

"I  had  the  first  sewing  machine — Wheeler  and  Wilson — that  ever 
was  in  Greenville." 

"Jewels   and   grain,    rich    shining   ores. 

Are  trophies  from   our   State's  deep   stores — 

Resplendent  shineth   every  gem — 

Victoria's  glittering  diadem 

In  all  its  setting,  hath  no  light 

So  rare  as  thine,  strange  Iliddenite.'' 

"It  is  impossible  even  to  sit  out  at  night  on  some  of  the  porches 
without  having  the  olfactories  grievously  offended." 

In  1889  she  was  left  a  widow'  She  died  December  30th,  1908,  leaving 
three  children. 

The  publication  of  her  verse  and  reminiscenses  would  be  a  valuable 
acquisition  to  our  literature. 


PITT    COUNTY    MKN    AM)    WOMEN. 

YELLOVVLY,  COLONEL  EDWARD  ('.,  was  born  in  Martin  County, 
N.  C.  He  came  to  Greenville  as  a  hoy  to  attend  tin;  Greenville  Acad- 
emy, then  taught  by  Professor  J.  M.  Lovejoy.  Wlien  Professor  Lovejoy 
went  to  Pittsboro  lie  continued  under  him  until  prepared  for  the  I'ni 
versity  of  North  Carolina,  which  he  then  entered.  Taking  up  the  stu<ly 
of  law,  he  was  licensed  to  practice  in  1843.  Locating  at  Greenville,  he 
was  soon  appointed  County  Attorney.  Prominence  and  rivalry  led  to  a 
challenge  to  fight  a  duel  by  by  II.  F.  Harris,  which  resulted  in  the  deatli 
of  Harris,  October  1st,  1847.  (See  Sketches  of  Pitt  County,  page  110.) 
He  was  averse  to  fighting  and  this  sad  affair  seemed  to  a  fleet  him 
through  life. 

May  Kith,  1801,  he  was  commissioned  Captain  to  raise  a  company  for 
the  war,  which  became  Company  G,  Eighth  Regiment,  and  went  to 
Hatteras,  where  it  saw  hard  service.  In  18G3  he  was  a  candidate  for 
the  Confederate  Congress,  his  opponent  being  R.  R.  Bridgers.  His 
friends  claimed  he  was  elected,  but  cheated  out  of  it  and  wanted  him  to 
contest,  but  preferring  field  duty,  he  would  not  contest.  August  3d, 
1803,  he  was  promoted  Major  of  the  regiment.  October  1st,  1803,  he 
was  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Sixty-eighth  Regiment.  He 
saw  much  service  and  had  to  contend  with  a  dissatisfaction  among  some 
troops  while  stationed  in  the  north  of  the  Albemarle  section  that  almost 
resulted  in  open  mutiny.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  (House) 
in  18G5. 

After  the  war  he  devoted  himself  to  his  practice  and  farm  interests, 
which  were  large.  In  his  latter  years  his  health  failed,  and  at  Ashe- 
ville,  North  Carolina,  where  he  had  gone  to  recuperate,  he  died  Sep- 
tember 23d,  1885,  aged  aboxit  70  years.  His  remains  were  brought  to 
Greenville  and  buried  in  Cherry  Hill  Cemetery. 

He   never   married. 


WILLIAMS.  JOHN,  was  a  s:.n  of  Robert  Williams,  who  settled  near 
Falkland  in  1727.  He  was  early  prominent  in  local  affairs  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Pitt  County  Committee  of  Safety  in  1774.  He  also  served 
on  other  important  committees  and  as  early  as  1777  was  a  .lustice  of 
the  Peace.  He  was  a  member  of  the  lirst  State  Legislature,  being  in 
the  Commons,  and  also  in  1778-0-80  and  81.  Ik'  was  in  the  Senate  in 
1784-5  and  again  in  1787.  I  Date  of  birth  and  death  not  accessible.) 


ROBERSON,  WILLIAM",  was  a  member  of  the  Pitt  County  Coinmit- 
tee  of  Safety  in  1774,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Committee  recommended 
by  the  Continental  Congress—  one  of  the  committee  on  building  court- 
house, prison  and  stocks  at  Martinborough,  1774 — was  a  delegate  to 
New  Berne,  April  3d,  1775 — member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  and  a 
member  of  the  "County  Committee  of  Safety.  Intelligence  and  Ohserva- 


234 


SKETCHES    OF    PROMINENT 


tion" — member  of  the  Halifax  Congress,  April  4th,  1776,  and  November 
12th,    1776 — member   first  State   Legislature,    1777,  being   in   the   Com- 
mons— again  in  1778,  but  resigned  on  being  elected  entry  taker. 
(Date  of  birth  and  death  not  accessible.) 


COX,  DR.  BERIAH  THAD- 
DEUS,  son  of  Josiah  and  Sal- 
lie  Ann  Cox,  was  born  July 
30th,  1863,  near  Handcock's 
Church,  in  Pitt  County,  N.  C. 
His  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  was  also  a  Confederate  sol- 
dier in  Company  "I,"  Sixty- 
seventh  Regiment.  In  1864  he 
was  transferred  to  Kinston,  N. 
C.,  where  he  served  as  guard 
over  captured  Confederate  de- 
serters. 

His  grandfather  was  Joseph 
Cox,  and  his  great-grandfather 
was     Abraham     Cox,     both     of 
whom    were     farmers.      II  i  s 
father's    mother    was    Nancy 
Handcock,     daughter     of     Eld. 
James   Handcock,   son   of   Gen- 
eral Handcock,  who,  in  the  set- 
tlement of  this  section  of  the  State,  participated  in  many  conflicts  with 
the  Indians;   having  been  killed  near  Snow,  Hill,  N.  C.,  while  leading 
his  men  in  battle,  driving  back  the  Indians. 

His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Noah  Tyson,  who  was  the  son  of 
Eld.  Noah  Tyson,  a  Baptist  minister.  The  latter  was  long  pastor  of 
Great  Swamp  Church,  near  Greenville.  In  the  year  1792  he  preached 
189  funerals,  and  84  in  1793. 

Dr.  Cox  was  prepared  for  college  in  Mrs.  Mary  Smith's  school,  near 
Coxville,  N.  C.,  and  matriculated  at  the  University  of  North  Carolina 
in  the  fall  of  1884,  pursuing  his  college  course  there  for  two  years. 
While  at  the  University  he  began  reading  medicine  under  Dr.  T.  W. 
Harris. 

In  October,  1886,  he  entered  the  University  of  Maryland  to  continue 
his  course  in  medicine.  During  the  vacation  of  1887  he  read  under 
Drs.  C.  J.  O'Hagan  and  F.  W.  Brown,  at  Greenville.  The  fall  of  that 
year  lie  returned  to  the  University  of  Maryland,  where  he  graduated 
in  April,  188S.  He  went  before  the  State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners 
for  North  Carolina  the  following  May.  Successfully  passing  his  ex- 
aminations, lie  returned  to  his  father's  homestead  and  begun  the  prac- 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN    AND    WOMEN.  235 

tice  of  his  profession,  continuing  there  until  189!),  when  ho  located  at 
Winterville.  In  the  year  1901  he  added  the  drug  business  to  his  prac 
tice.  On  February  12,  1904,  his  drug  store  and  office,  with  contents, 
were  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

lie  served  as  County  Superintendent  of  Health  for  three  years — Sep 
teniber  1st-,  1890-Septeniber  1st,  1893. 

He  has  taken  little  active  interest  in  politics,  but  in  l'.)OS  he  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  for  the  Legislature  (House)  and  was 
elected  over  his  opponent  by  1,785  majority,  leading  all  candidates  for 
the  Legislature  for  that  year.  He  declined  to  again  be  a  candidate  in 
1910.  While  in  the  Legislature  he  served  on  several  very  important 
committees.  Among  the  bills  he  introduced  was  the  one  creating  vital 
statistics  for  cities  and  towns  of  North  Carolina  containing  one  thou- 
sand or  more  inhabitants. 

He  is  a  farmer  and  is  interested  in  many  of  Winterville's  industries, 
being  an  officer  and  stockholder  in  several.  He  gave  liberally  in  the 
building  of  Winterville  High  School,  being  elected  president  of  the  first 
board  of  trustees. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Medical  Society,  and  also  the 
Pitt  County  Medical  Society,  having  served  as  both  president  and  vice- 
president  of  the  latter. 

In  1891  he  married  Mary  V.  Smith,  a  daughter  of  YV.  II.  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Smith.  They  have  four  children,  all  daughters.  The  oldest.  Miss 
Venetia,  is  attending  the  Salem  (N.  C. )  Female  College,  and  the  sec- 
ond, Miss  Jeannette.  is  attending  the  State  Normal  and  Industrial  Col- 
lege at  Greensboro. 


WIIICIIARD,  DAVID  JORDAN,  son  of  David  F.  and  Yioletta  (Jor- 
dan) Whichard,  was  born  in  Greenville.  August  Stli,  1862.  His  father 
entered  the  Confederate  army  as  a  private  in  Company  C,  Forty-fourth 
regiment,  and  was  promoted  Commissary  Sergeant.  After  the  war  he 
served  as  deputy  sheriff,  deputy  Register  and  Register  of  Deeds.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  A.  G.  Jordan,  a  farmer  anil  school  teacher. 
of  Pactolus. 

Mr.  Whichard  secured  a  good  common  school  education,  mostly  under 
his  mother,  who  was  one  of  Greenville's  pioneer  teachers,  and  entered  a 
print  shop,  becoming  part  owner  of  a  newspaper,  before  he  was  sixteen 
years  old.  After  a  partnership  of  several  years,  lie  bought  the  interest 
of  his  brother.  Their  first  paper  was  the  Green iille  Express,  which 
became  the  Eastern  Kcllecior  in  1SS2,  and  also  the  Dnibj  Iteflc'-tor  in 
1894,  both  of  which  were  merged  into  a  stock  company  in  1!>10.  He  lias 
served  two  terms  as  Clerk  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  one  term  Presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber-of  Commerce  and  also  lias  been  President  of  the 
North  Carolina  Press  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  ami  for  twenty- 


23G 


SKETCHES    OF    PROMINENT 


six  years  one  of  its  deacons.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason.  Soon  after 
the  building  of  a  telegraph  line  from  Tarboro,  he  became  operator,  and 
has  continued  with  tlie  Western  Union  since  it  bought  the  line,  and  for 
some  time  was  express  agent. 

In  1S88,  ho  married  Ilennie,  daughter  of  the  late  II.  A.  Sutton,  and 
they  have  four  children.  His  oldest  son,  David  J.,  Sr.,  has  served  two 
terms  as  Page  in  the  General  Assembly. 


COX,  AMOS  GRAVES,  son 
of  John  C.  and  Elizabeth  Cox, 
was  born  July  12th,  1855. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  and 
mechanic,  with  an  inventive 
turn  of  mind,  lie  invented 
and  manufactured  the  first 
wheat  threshers  ever  sold  in 
Pitt  County.  Another  inven- 
tion was  a  machine  that  beat 
out  wheat,  without  cutting  it 
from  the  Held,  and  also  sacked 
it.  He  sold  this  patent  to 
Western  people.  His  last  and 
most  successful  invention  was 
improvements  in  cotton  plant- 
ers, and  the  fame  of  Cox's 
planter  is  known  all  over  the 
South.  He  was  .1  Confederate 
soldier,  in  Company  G,  Eighth 
Regiment.  He  also  served  the 
county  as  surveyor.  His  grandfather,  Amos  Cox,  was  also  a  farmer. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Graves  Gardner,  a  farmer. 

l\Ir.  Cox's  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm,  attending  the  country 
school  and  working  around  the  shop  and  farm.  When  grown  he  worked 
as  a  carpenter  for  some  time,  but  marrying  he  settled  down  on  the 
farm,  began  making  cotton  planters  and  selling  them  through  the 
country.  In  ]8Sf>  lie  began  merchandising  in  a  little  store  12x16  feet. 
Succeeding  to  his  father's  business,  he  enlarged  and  extended  it  and  it 
grew.  A  post-ollice  was  established  at  his  place  of  business  in  1S89 
and  tin;  place  named  Winterville.  lie  was  postmaster  and  so  con- 
tinued for  many  years.  The  railroad  Avas  extended  from  Greenville  to 
Kinston  in  1S!M).  A  siding  was  given  him  for  shipping  purposes,  there 
being  nothing  there  but  a  woodrack.  About  1894  he  moved  his  busi- 
ness to  the  railroad,  organi/ed  the  A.  G.  Cox  Manufacturing  Company, 
for  the  manufacture  of  planters,  carts,  wagons  and  other  farm  imple- 
ments. Soon  a  buggy  manufactory  followed.  Having  patented  a  fer- 


PITT    CUL.NTV    MKN     A.NU    WO.MK.N.  iM  i 

tilizer  distributor,  that  was  manufactured  there.  A  small  school  liu<l 
been  kept  fur  sonic  years,  but  in  1899  it  \vas  succeeded  In  the  Winter 
villc  High  School,  which  is  now  a  large  and  successful  school  under 
the  direction  of  the  Neuse  Baptist  .Association.  About  this  time  or 
before  a  (lour  null  had  been  erected,  being  the  only  one  in  the  county. 
A  cigar  factory  had  also  been  organised  and  was  in  successful  opera 
tion,  but  the  tobacco  trust  soon  made  it  unprofitable  and  work  was 
discontinued.  In  11)00  un  oil  mill  was  built,  and  it  was  (lie  first  one  in 
the  county.  The  same  year  a  bank  was  organi/ed.  In  the  inaugura- 
tion of  all  these  enterprises  he  was  the  nuA'ing  spirit,  a  large  stock 
holder,  an  officer  and  a  prime  promoter  of  their  success.  He  has  seen 
Winterville  grow  from  a  woodrack  fifteen  years  ago  to  a  town,  now 
with  perhaps  500  people,  with  a  number  of  creditable  and  successful 
enterprises,  in  all  of  'which  lie  is  greatly  interested.  He  has  never 
sought  political  honors,  but  in  1S9S  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
County  Board  of  Education,  which  position  he  has  held  since  and  has 
been  chairman  since  1S99.  Tie  has  served  his  people  in  othrr  minor 
capacities. 

He  has  been  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church  twenty  years.  He  is  a 
Master  Mason,  was  a  Granger  and  Alliance-man  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Farmers'  Union.  He  married  Susan  A.  Jackson,  daughter  of  Allen 
Jackson,  a  farmer.  They  have  five  children.  Fountain  F.,  the  oldest 
son,  is  completing  his  education  at  Wake  Forest  College:  his  second, 
Roy,  is  Superintendent  of  the  A.  G.  Cox  Manufacturing  Company. 


KING,  HFNRY  THOMAS,  fourth  son  of  Thomas  and  Martha  A. 
(Turnage)  King,  was  born  near  what  is  now  Farmville,  November  9th. 
1S01.  He  received  a  common  school  education  and  began  life  in  a  coun- 
try store.  After  eight  years  of  clerking  and  merchandising,  he  went  to 
Tarboro,  in  January,  1SS9,  and  established  The  Carolina  Manner,  a 
weekly  newspaper,  which  was  discontinued  after  two  years.  In  1^92  he 
was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  by  his  brother,  R.  W.  King,  who  had  been 
elected  sheriff  of  Pitt  County.  He  held  this  position  two  term-;,  or 
four  years.  January,  1895,  he  bought  The  ln<1<\r.  a  weekly  paper  at 
Greenville,  from  Andrew  Joyner,  changed  the  name  to  Kinii'x  ll><7,-/'/, 
and  published  it  as  a  weekly,  semi-weekly,  tri-weekly  or  daily  until 
the  fall  of  1907,  when  it  was  discontinued.  In  1900  he  was  appointed 
a  State  fertilizer  inspector  and  served  two  years.  In  1901,  to-  fill  a 
vacancy,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  Green- 
ville and  served  one  year.  In  190-2  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  (House) — was  an  independent  candidate  for  the  same  in 
1904  and  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  Slate  Senate  in  190G.  He  is 
now  a  United  States  Commissioner,  appointed  by  the  late  Judire  Thomas 
R.  Purnell.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  (Disciple)  church,  and  in 
1906-7  published  The  Watch  Tower  as  a  church  paper. 


238 


SKETCHES    OF    PROMINENT 


He  is  now  (1910)  the  Republican  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  First 
District. 

June  27th,  1901,  lie  married  Blanche,  daughter  of  William  F.  and 
Eunice  L.  (Latham)  Draughon.  They  have  two  children — daughters — 
living. 


MOORE,  LARRY  1.,  was 
born  near  Wilson,  March  14th, 
1870.  His  father,  Elder  An- 
drew J.  Moore,  was  a  native  of 
Pitt  County,  having  been  born 
near  Falkland  and  lived  there 
many  years.  His  grandfather, 
Ichabod  Moore,  was  many  years 
a  Primitive  Baptist  minister, 
serving  churches  in  the  county. 
His  father  was  a  Confederate 
soldier,  Captain  of  Company 
F,  Sixty-first  Xorth  Carolina 
Regiment.  He  was  severely 
wounded  near  Charleston  and 
was  retired  from  active  service. 
Later  he  was  recruiting  officer 
in  Pitt  and  adjoining  counties. 
After  the  war  he  became  a  min- 
ister of  the  Primitive  Baptist 
Church  and  has  been  serving 
churches  in  Eastern  Carolina  forty  years  or  more.  His  mother,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Moore,  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Larry  D.  Farmer,  of  Wilson. 
When  Mr.  Moore  was  about  eight  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Whitaker's.  X.  C.,  where  they  still  reside.  '  His  father  taught  a  high 
school  at  Whitaker's  many  years,  and  there  he  got  his  education. 
When  sixteen  years  old  he  entered  the  railroad  service  at  Whitaker's 
as  telegraph  operator  and  agent,  was  later  promoted  to  the  office  at 
Wilmington,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old. 
He  then  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  after  taking  the  course  at 
Chapel  IT  ill  was  licensed  to  practice. 

He  located  at  Greenville  and  soon  entered  upon  a  successful  practice. 
He  always  took  great  interest  in  politics,  and  in  1898  was  the  Demo- 
cratic nominee  for  Solicitor  in  the  Third  (Pitt)  Judicial  District.  He 
was  elected,  and  again  elected  ip  1902,  and  again  in  190G.  From  1904 
to  19()(J  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  Executive  Committee  of 
Pitt  county,  lie  had  taken  an  active  part  in  advocating  and  helping 
get  the  Norfolk  and  Southern  railroad  to  pass  through  Greenville  and 
was  its  local  attorney.  Being  offered  a  general  attorneyship,  requiring 


PITT    COUNTY     MKN     AM>     \VO.\IK.\.  2o'J 

him  to  locate  at  Now  Berne,  lie  resigned  the  Solicitorship  in  1907,  ac- 
cepted the  attorncyship  offered  iind  soon  thereafter  moved  to  New 
Berne. 

He  is  very  prominent  in  fraternal  orders  and  has  been  highh  lion 
orcd  by  them,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Kel 
lows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Masons,  belonging  to  the  Mine  Lodge  and 
Chapter  at  Greenville,  Knights  Templars  Mount  Lebanon  Lodge  at 
Wilson  and  the  Shrine  Oasis  Temple  at  Charlotte,  and  is  a  I'.iM  degree 
Mason,  Scottish  Rile. 

Besides  his  large  law  practice,  he  has  many  other  interests  and  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  several  important  enterprises.  lie  was  on<- 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Greenville  Banking  and  Trust  Company  and  its 
first  President.  He  was  also  interested  in  the  organization  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Greenville. 

He  married  Miss  Ella,  youngest  daughter  of  Colonel  and  Mrs.  \V.  M. 
King,  of  Greenville,  and  has  an  interesting  family  of  three  children, 
two  boys  and  a  girl. 


RAGSDALE,  WILLIAM  HENRY,  son  of  Smith,  G.  and  Amanda  II. 
Ragsdale,  was  born  in  Granville  County,  North  Carolina,  March  3d. 
1855.  Tlis  father  was  a  farmer,  and  in  the  Civil  War  was  a  member 
of  the  Senior  Reserves.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  W.  II. 
Royster. 

Professor  Ragsdale  was  raised  on  the  farm,  working  and  attending 
the  common  schools  until  he  entered  Wake  Forest,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1880.  He  then  accepted  the  principalship  of  Vine  Hill  Acad- 
emy, at  Scotland  Neck,  which  position  he  held  three  years.  He  then 
came  to  Greenville  and  accepted  the  principalship  of  the  old  Male 
Academy,  which  he  held  two  years.  In  1885  he  married  and  returned 
to  Granville  County,  where  he  taught  until  he  came  back  to  Greenville 
in  1891,  again  taking  charge  of  the  old  Male  Academy.  The  same  year 
he  was  elected  County  Superintendent  of  Education.  Tie  continued  to 
teach  and  hold  the  position  of  County  Superintendent  except  the  years 
1808-9,  until  1903,  when  the  Board  of  Education  required  him  to  give 
all  his  time  to  the  work,  which  he  has  since  then.  He  has  now  been 
Superintendent  seventeen  years. 

He  has  always  been  active  in  educational  work.  In  1899  he  was 
President  of  the  North  Carolina  Teachers'  Assembly,  which  met  that 
year  at  Morehead  City.  The  first  four  weeks'  Teachers'  Institute  in  the 
State  was  instituted  and  held  by  him  at  Winterville  in  the  summer  of 
1901.  In  190fl  he  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  State  Text-book  Coin- 
mission  for  five  years.  He  was  one  of  the  strongest  supporters  of  the 
movement  that  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  East  Carolina  Teachers' 
Training  School  at  Greenville,  and  last  year  was  selected  to  teach  in 
that  department  of  the  Summer  School,  known  as  School  Management. 

Professor  Ragsdale  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,   is  one  of   its 


SKETCHES    OF     PROMINENT 

deacons,  and  has  been  one  of  its  Sunday  School  teachers  twenty-five 
years.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Blue  Lodge  and  Roval  Arch 
Mason.  He  is  widely  and  well  known  in  school  circles  and  in  much 
demand  as  a  speaker  on  any  educational  topic,  having  made  many 
addresses  for  the  advancement  of  educational  work  in  many  counties. 
He  has  held  and  assisted  in  many  teachers'  institutes. 

September  16th,  1885,  lie  married  Bettie,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
II.  A.  and  Elizabeth  Sutton,  of  Greenville.  She  died  June  2d,  1902. 
They  had  five  children,  all  living. 


COBB,  ROBERT  JOHX,  son  of  James  C.  and  Mary  E.  Cobb,  was  born 
on  the  farm  in  what  is  now  Beaver  Dam  township,  June  10th,  1855. 
His  father  was  a  farmer  and  merchant,  who  rose  to  competency  and 
prominence  in  his  community  by  industry  and  integrity. 

Mr.  Cobb's  educational  advantages  were  very  limited.  He  worked 
on  the  farm  and  attended  the  country  schools.  In  1871,  his  father 
began  business  building  a  store  on  his  farm.  In  1876,  Robert  was 
clerk  in  the  store  and  there  began  his  business  career.  This  business 
was  successful  and  he  became  a  partner  with  his  father,  the  firm  being 
J.  C.  Cobb  &  Son.  In  1890  they  opened  business  in  Greenville  with 
Robert  as  manager  as  he  had  been  of  the  business  in  the  country.  The 
next  year  he  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  establishment  of  a 
tobacco  market  in  Greenville.  He  was  not  only  a  large  stockholder  in 
the  old  Greenville  Warehouse  Company,  but  was  active  in  promoting 
its  success.  In  1900  he  retired  from  the  mercantile  business.  The  same 
year  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  was  one 
of  the  principal  stockholders  and  organizers  of  the  Greenville  Banking 
and  Trust  Company.  He  was  made  a  director  and  elected  its  first 
cashier,  which  position  he  held  until  elected  its  president  in  1906, 
which  position  he  held  two  years,  and  then  retired.  In  1902  the  Build- 
ing and  Lumber  Company  was  organized  with  him  as  president.  This 
firm  sold  out  its  business  in  1909.  In  1903  he  did  a  great  help  towards 
the  graded  school.  When  those  bonds  were  not  finding  buyers  he  came 
forward  and  took  them,  thus  relieving  the  directors  of  much  embarrass- 
ment. He  is  a  director  of  the  school  and  has  been  since  its  organiza- 
tion, lie  is  also  a  director,  stockholder  and  treasurer  of  the  Farmers 
Consolidated  Tobacco  Company,  an  organization  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
ducting warehouses  for  the  sale  of  farmers'  tobacco.  In  1908  he  took 
large  stock  in  the  Cabinet  Veneer  Company,  was  prominent  in  its  or- 
ganization and  was  elected  vice-president.  All  these  enterprises  have 
been  very  successful  and  add  much  to  progress  and  prosperity  of 
Greenville.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  York  &  Cobb,  contractors 
and  builders,  which  does  a  large  business.  Prominent  among  the  work 
of  this  firm  are  the  entire  buildings  of  the  East  Carolina  Teachers 


1MTT    COt.NTY     ,vIKN     AND     WOMKN.  241 

Training  School  and  the  white  graded  school  building  at  Tarboro.     He 
is  also  interested   in   large  farming  operations  and   stock  raising. 

In  1887  he  married  Mollie  A.,  daughter  of  Charles  I).  Kountrce, 
a  well-known  citizen  of  Greenville.  They  have  four  children,  Cecil  R. 
Cobb  being  the  head  clerk  at  the  Cabinet  Veneer  Company. 


KING,  ALLIE  (VINES),  daughter  of  Colonel  Samuel  and  Polly 
(May)  Vines,  was  born  in  Pitt  County  (now  Falkland  Township), 
April,  1803.  Colonel  Vines  was  a  large  planter  and  slave-owner,  a 
man  of  prominence  and  influence.  lie  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of 
1812-15,  and  afterwards  long  colonel  of  militia,  lie  was  born  in  1781 
and  died  in  January,  1803,  aged  over  82  years.  Her  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Major  Benjamin  May. 

Allie  Vines'  education  was  that  afforded  by  the  best  schools  of  her 
times  and  community.  She  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of  thirteen 
daughters  and  two  sons.  Thus  her  early  life  and  training  was  such 
as  to  greatly  fit  her  for  the  duties  and  cares  that  were  later  to  fall 
upon  her.  February  13th,  1823,  she  married  John  King,  the  only  child 
of  Thomas  and  Polly  (Truss)  King.  Thomas  King  was  a  planter,  suc- 
ceeding to  his  father's  estates.  His  father,  Abram  King,  was  one  of 
the  early  settlors  on  Tyson's  croek,  a  large  planter  and  a  man  of  promi- 
nence. John  King  died  June  loth,  1845,  leaving  his  widow  witli  nine 
children,  the  only  one  grown  dying  the  following  January,  lie  was 
studying  medicine  at  Cincinnati  and  filled  an  unknown  grave.  The  task 
of  rearing  and  educating  the  others  was  no  small  responsibility.  An- 
other sorrow  was  added  to  her  already  great  burden,  when  in  1S53,  War- 
ren, her  fourth  son,  died  too  from  home.  After  years  of  cares,  sorrows 
and  trials,  she  saw  her  other  children  grown,  and  prospects  for  a  bright 
future.  Hut  war  now  was  over  the  land  and  in  October,  1804,  claimed 
another  son,  Thomas,  as  one  of  its  prey.  And  again  in  less  than  two 
short  years  (June,  18G6),  death  claimed  Mary,  one  of  her  married 
daughters.  The  next  few  succeeding  years  that  cast  the  blight  of  re- 
construction over  the  South  were  years  of  anxiety  for  her,  for  she  yet 
had  three  sons  and  they  were  prominent  actors  in  the  drama  of  those 
times.  But  her  years  of  cares  and  sacrifices  were  partially  rewarded 
in  seeing  these  sons  honored  by  their  fellow-men.  That  was  glory  for 
her.  Few  mothers  have  been  rewarded  more  in  the  lives  they  built,  and 
in  their  fruits.  (See  sketches  of  Thomas  King,  Captain  John  King, 
Colonel  William  M.  King  and  Dr.  Robert  W.  King.)  Her  daughters 
were  Mary  (married  G.  W.  Parker),  Nancy  W.  (married  B.  F.  Moore), 
and  Allie  V.  (married  Colonel  Walter  Newton). 

In  1ST..,  when  attempting  to  get  into  her  buggy,  she  had  a  fall  and 
suffered  a  fracture  of  the  thigh.  She  had  stopped  on  the  roadside  to 
gather  some  shrubs  and,  being  by  herself,  it  was  some  little  while  before 
help  came.  The  fracture  never  healed  and  after  much  suffering  she 

in 


•>4'2  SKETCHES    OF    PKOMIXEXT 

died  February,  1883,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  cemetery  beside  her 
husband. 

Early  in  life  she  became  a  member  of  the  Christian  (Disciple)  church 
and  ever  lived  a  consistent  and  consecrated  Christian.  Her  virtues 
were  many — a  ministering  angel  to  the  suffering,  a  helping  hand  to  the 
needy,  obedient  to  every  call  of  duty.  Of  a  strong  cultured  mind,  tender 
heart  and  great  goodness,  hers  was  a  life  of  duty — of  duty  performed, 
of  cares  not  unmixed  with  sorrow  and  suffering — rewarded  with  chil- 
dren, and  children's  children,  to  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed,  and  with 
the  great  promise  of  life  eternal. 


KING,  COLONEL  WILLIAM  MAY,  the  sixth  child  of  John  and 
Allie  (V.)  King,  was  born  at  the  old  King  homestead,  November  ISth, 
1833.  He  received  a  good  common  school  education  and  began  life  as 
an  overseer.  After  marrying  he  settled  down  as  a  farmer.  In  the  war 
of  ISO  1-5  lie  was  assigned  to  home  duty  but  for  a  short  while  was  at 
Camp  Mangum  at  Raleigh.  He  was  afterwards  colonel  of  the  militia. 
In  1SGG  Governor  Ilolden  appointed  him  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
by  appointment  and  election  he  held  this  position  many  years.  In  1870 
he  was  elected  a  County  Commissioner  and  was  reelected  in  1872.  In 
1874  he  was  elected  one  of  Pitt's  representatives  in  the  Constitutional 
Convention,  which  met  the  next  year.  As  an  independent  candidate 
for  sheriff  lie  was  defeated  in  1880,  but  was  elected  in  1882  and  again 
in  1884  and  again  in  1880.  In  1892  he  was  voted  for  for  the  State 
Senate,  but  was  not  an  active  candidate.  In  1894  lie  was  elected  on  the 
populist  ticket  register  of  deeds  for  the  county  and  in  1890  was  elected 
a  county  commissioner.  Since  then  he  lias  not  been  active  in  politics. 
Until  elected  sheriff  he  had  always  lived  on  his  farm  and  devoted  his 
time  to  /arming,  with  the  addition  of  merchandising  a  few  years  at 
home.  After  being  elected  sheriff  lie  moved  to  Greenville  and  has  since 
lived  there.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs 
and  those  pertaining  to  farmers.  He  was  a  prominent  Granger,  and 
later  an  Allianceman.  He  is  a  Uoyal  Arch  Mason  and  a  member  of 
the  Universalist  church. 

November  ISth,  1850,  he  married  Almeta,  daughter  of  Tlowell  and 
Delphia  (Newton)  Peebles.  November  17th,  190G,  they  celebrated  their 
Golden  Wedding,  with  children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren 
present.  They  have  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

Colonel  King  is  a  very  large  man,  weighing  near  275  pounds.  Mrs. 
King  is  also  large  and  has  weighed  over  200.  Their  children  are  all 
of  large  stature  and  the  family  would  average  200  pounds  each.  lie  is 
G  feet  2  inches  tall  and  so  well  proportioned  that  he  does  not  appear 
to  l>e  a  big  man,  unless  at  close  distance. 


1MTT    COUNTY    MEN    AND    WOMEN. 

WHITE,  SAMl'KL  T1LDEN,  ox-treasurer  of  I'itt  County,  was  born 
near  Greenville,  December  30th,  1873.  He  comes  of  old  Fnglish  and 
Revolutionary  stock.  His  great-fjfreat-grandfather  was  a  resident  of 
Craven  county  long  before  the  devolution  and  fought  for  Independence; 
his  great-grandfather,  .lames  A.  White,  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
1812-15  and  for  a  time  did  duty  at  Heacon  Island;  his  grandfather 
was  .lames  S.  White,  and  his  father,  Captain  Charles  A.  White,  of 
Company  K,  Sixty-seventh  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Confederate 
troops.  Captain  White  was  a  Craven  county  man,  but  came  to  I'itt 
county  after  the  war.  He  married  Miss  Louisa  A.  Corey.  On  his  farm 
near  Greenville,  Samuel  was  born,  being  the  third  son. 

Mr.  White's  educational  advantages  were  limited,  and  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  he  entered  his  father's  store,  in  Greenville,  where  he  clerked 
until  he  succeeded  to  the  business.  This  business  he  conducted  with 
marked  success  until  he  sold  out  and  devoted  his  time  to  his  other 
interests. 

After  a  hard   light   in    1904,  the  democratic  county  convention   nomi 
nated  him  for  treasurer.     At  the  following  election  lie  was  elected,  and 
has  been   twice   re-elected — in    1900   and    1908.      At   each   convention    In- 
won  his  nomination  over  some  of  the  best  and  most  popular  men  in  the 
county. 

As  a  member  of  fraternal  orders,  he  is  prominent  and  has  been  highly 
honored.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  now 
occupies  the  exalted  position  of  Great  Sachem  of  the  State  Council  of 
Red  Men  of  North  Carolina. 

In  1900  he  married  Miss  Annie  W.  Sheppard,  daughter  of  the  late 
Henry  Sheppard.  She  died  in  1900,  leaving  two  children. 


KING,  DR.  ROBERT  WILLIAMS,  the  seventh  child  of  John  and 
Allie  (V.)  King,  was  born  at  the  old  King  homestead,  November  15th. 
18,'?5.  He  read  medicine  and  graduated  from  the  best  colleges  of  the 
times.  He  located  at  Wilson,  North  Carolina,  and  was  a  surgeon  in 
the  war  of  1SG1-5.  He  took  much  interest  in  public  affairs,  was  very 
popular  and  a  good  speaker.  He  was  twice  chairman  of  the  county 
democratic  executive  committee  and  was  later  twice  elected  to  the  State 
Senate.  In  1890  he  was  prominently  mentioned  for  the  democratic 
nomination  for  Representative  in  Congress,  from  the  second  district. 
He  enjoyed  a  large  practice,  and  while  visiting  one  of  his  patients  in 
1890  he  sufl'ered  a  fall  and  fractured  his  collarbone.  From  this  injury. 
and  complications,  he  died.  January  19th,  1S91.  lie  was  buried  in  the 
Wilson  cemetery.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  (Disciple)  church 
and  took  great  interest  in  its  progress,  lie  was  a  prominent  Mason. 

In  1855  he  married  Carrie  M.  liuyum.  who  died  a  few  years  since. 
Thev  had  two  children — daughters,  both  living. 


244  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

KING,  THOMAS,  the  third  child  of  John  and  Allie  (V.)  King,  was 
born  at  the  old  King  homestead,  April  28th,  1828.  He  received  a  good 
common  school  education  and  began  life  as  a  farmer,  a  few  years  later 
adding  merchandising.  Taking  great  interest  in  all  affairs  of  his  coun- 
try he  never  sought  office,  but  was  content  to  serve  his  people  in  .humble 
capacities,  and  among  such  was  that  of  school  committeeman.  He  was 
a  whig  and  strong  Union  man,  but  when  the  inevitable  came,  he  readily 
volunteered,  May  15th,  1862,  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  Forty-fourth 
Regiment.  After  a  short  stay  at  Camp  Mangum,  Raleigh,  his  regiment 
went  to  Tarboro,  and  while  doing  duty  in  that  section  was  at  Tranters 
creek,  when  Colonel  George  B.  Singletary  was  killed.  The  regiment 
soon  went  to  Virginia  and  did  duty  about  Richmond  and  vicinity,  being 
in  many  of  the  hard-fought  and  bloody  battles  of  the  war.  On  the  death 
of  General  Stonewall  Jackson,  Company  D,  Forty-fourth  Regiment  was 
the  Guard  of  Honor  while  his  body  lay  in  state  in  the  Capitol  at  Rich- 
mond. In  a  skirmish  on  Squirrel  Level  road,  near  Petersburg,  October 
8th,  1SG4,  he  was  mortally  wounded,  dying  October  24th,  1804.  Though 
that  was  his  first  wound,  he  had  many  narrow  escapes,  shots  through 
his  clothes  and  once  a  ball  pierced  a  Testament  in  his  upper  left  vest 
pocket  and  lodged  against  his  flesh.  Enlisting  as  a  private  he  soon 
became  lieutenant  and  later  often  commanded  the  company.  While  in 
the  army  he  came  within  a  few  votes  of  the  whig  nomination  for  sheriff 
of  his  county,  by  his  friends  at  home.  He  was  a  Mason  and  a  member 
of  the  Christian  (Disciple)  Church. 

May  llth,  1848,  he  married  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  Moses  and 
Martha  A.  (Briley)  Turnage.  Moses  Turnage  was  a  planter,  of  Welsh 
descent  and  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812-15  (in  Captain  Samuel  Vines' 
Company).  They  had  four  children,  all  sons. 


MOORING,  GUILFORD  MORTIMER,  son  of  William  L.  and  Cath- 
erine Mooring,  was  born  February  1st,  1847.  His  father  and  his  grand- 
father, John  Mooring,  were  large  and  prosperous  farmers. 

Mr.  Mooring  received  a  common  school  education,  working  on  the 
farm  until  the  spring  of  18R4,  when  seventeen  years  old  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  Eighteenth  Regiment.  He  went  through  the  last  year  of 
the  war  and  was  never  wounded,  though  while  on  picket  duty  a  ball  so 
closely  grazed  his  face  that  he  felt  its  force.  He  was  in  twenty-two 
battles  and  one  of  the  color-bearers  of  his  regiment.  The  regiment  had 
ten  color-bearers,  only  two  of  whom  lived  to  surrender  with  General 
Johnston.  Of  Company  G,  there  were  only  three  men  present.  He  then 
returned  home  and  went  back  to  farming.  He  soon  thereafter  began 
his  public  career  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  which  position  he  held  sev- 
eral years.  He  was  elected  a  county  commissioner  in  187G  and  in  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  he  was  appointed  sheriff  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
Sheriff  E.  A.  Wilson.  In  the  democratic  convention  that  vear  there  was 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN    AND    WOMEN. 

some  trouble  over  the  nomination  for  sheriff,  and  ho  refused  to  let  hia 
name  go  before  the  second  convention.  He  was  not  long  out  of  the 
sheriff's  office  before  he  was  again  elected  a  county  commissioner,  which 
position  he  held  many  years.  In  1898  he  was  elected  sheriff,  but  de 
dined  a  renomination  in  1000.  He  then  returned  to  his  farm  where  he 
remained  out  of  politics  until  1910,  when  he  was  elected  a  repre- 
sentative in  the  Legislature.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Pension  Hoard  of  the  county,  which  board  passes  upon 
the  eligibility  of  Confederate  soldiers  for  pensions  from  the  State. 

In  1873  he  married  Josephine  Moore,  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel 
Moore,  a  farmer.  She  died  in  December,  1907.  They  had  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living. 

KIXG,  JOHN",  third  son  of  John  and  Allie  V.  King,  was  born  Febru- 
ary Gth,  1830.  He  received  a  common  school  education  and  after  a 
short  experience  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Falkland  began  business  for  him- 
self. After  a  few  years  he  sold  out  that  business  to  devote  his  time 
to  his  farming  interests.  He  was  Captain  of  militia  in  1800,  and  during 
the  war,  1861-5,  he  was  assessor  of  taxes  "in  kind."  For  several  years 
after  the  war  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business,  moving  to  Tarboro 
about  1867.  On  the  death  of  his  wife  he  returned  to  his  farm  near 
Falkland.  He  was  Associate  Justice  of  the  Pitt  County  Inferior  Court 
several  years.  In  1SS2  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  as  an  inde- 
pendent, serving  one  term,  after  which  he  did  not  take  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  affairs.  During  his  life  he  performed  many  minor 
public  duties,  and  was  many  years  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  (Disciple)  church  and  a  Mason.  lie  took 
great  interest  in  the  Grange  and  its  work,  was  Master  of  his  local  and 
also  of  the  County  Grange  and  was  for  some  time  County  Lecturer.  He 
was  primarily  a  farmer  and  loved  his  farm,  and  often  interested  in 
other  business,  practically  lived  and  died  a  farmer.  His  was  an  ideal 
farm  life.  Xever  considered  wealthy,  his  life  was  one  of  comfort  and 
plenty  and  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all. 

He  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Martha  Joyner,  daughter 
of  Abram  Joyner,  his  second  was  Bettie  Cobb,  of  Kdgecombe,  and  his 
third  was  Fannie  Bynum,  daughter  of  Allen  Bynum,  all  of  whom  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  grave.  He  died  June  25th,  1910,  leaving  one  daughter 
by  his  first  wife,  two  sons  and  a  daughter  by  his  second  and  three  sons 
by  his  last. 

One  of  his  sons,  George  B.  King,  is  a  lawyer,  was  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  member  of  the  legislature  (House)  of  1S99,  Private 
Secretary  to  W.  A.  B.  Branch  in  Congress  from  1891  to  1895,  postmaster 
at  Greenville  from  1895  to  1899  and  now  holds  a  government  position  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 


246 


SKETCHES    OF    PROMINENT 


FLEMING,  JAMES  LEONI 
DAS,  son  of  Leonidas  and 
Harriet  E.  Fleming,  was  born 
November  1st,  1867.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  a  Con- 
federate soldier,  in  Company 
IT,  Twenty-seventh  Regiment, 
and  a  county  commissioner  sev- 
eral years.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Major  Jones,  a 
farmer.  Mr.  Fleming  was 
raised  on  the  farm  and  at- 
tended school  at  Greenville. 
He  graduated  from  Wake  For- 
est College  and  then  taught 
school  a  year.  He  then  studied 
law  at  the  University  of  North 
Carolina  and  was  licensed  in 
1S92.  He  located  at  Green- 
ville, and  was  soon  elected 
mayor.  He  served  more  than 
one  term.  When  the  Inferior 
Court  was  practically  re-established,  he  was  elected  solicitor,  but  the 
court  never  sat.  He  was  twice  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 
In  1904,  he  was  the  democratic  nominee  for  the  State  Senate  and 
elected.  He  was  re-elected  in  1906,  but  declined  a  renomination  in 
1908.  After  being  elected  to  the  Senate  in  1906,  he  began  the  work 
of  getting  the  bill  for  the  establishment  of  a  State  school  in  the  east. 
He  prepared  the  bill,  fought  for  it  in  season  and  out  of  season,  before 
the  committees  and  in  the  Senate.  The  result  was  a  bill  providing 
for  the  establishment  of  The  East  Carolina  Teachers'  Training  School. 
His  next  work  was  to  get  it  for  Greenville.  In  this  he  was  ably  sec- 
onded and  zealously  supported  and  it  was  won.  The  East  Carolina 
Teachers'  Training  School  was  built  at  Greenville.  It  Was  his  crown- 
ing achievement  and  he  saw  the  fulfillment  of  his  faith  and  works. 
But  only  for  a  short  while.  In  the  prime  of  life  and  usefulness  his 
life  went  out.  lie  was  killed  in  an  automobile  accident,  November 
5th,  1909,  about  a  mile  from  Greenville,  on  the  old  plank  road.  He 
died  instantly,  being  thrown  some  distance,  breaking  his  neck.  Two 
other  deaths  resulted  from  that  accident,  and  the  fourth  escaped 
almost  miraculously. 

He  was   a   Mason,   a  Pythian   and   an   Odd   Fellow.     He  was   a   good 
lawyer,   a  forceful   and   pleasant   speaker   and   a  staunch   friend. 

In    1899  he   married   Lula  White,   daughter  of   Captain   C.   A.   White. 
They  had   three  children,  two  girls  and  a  boy. 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN     AND    \VOMK.N.  ^47 

SMITH,  AIARY,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Sarah  Nelson,  was  horn 
in  Craven  County,  North  Carolina,  October  27,  1H25.  Her  father  was 
a  descendant  of  the  Nelsons,  of  Kent,  England,  and  her  mother  was 
a  daughter  of  Charles  Keach.  Though  her  education  was  limited  she 
began  the  work  of  teaching  in  1S45.  The  next  year,  1S-10,  she  mar 
ried  William  II.  Smith,  of  Pitt  county,  and  of  course  became  a  I'itt 
county  woman.  She  continued  to  teach  and  having  never  studied 
grammar,  mastered  it  by  teaching  it.  Family  duties  made  her  give  up 
teaching  herself,  but  she  employed  a  teacher  and  continued  the  school 
until  1869,  v.'hen  circumstances  forced  the  school  to  discontinue.  Three 
children  had  married,  but  there  were  still  seven  at  home,  four  of  whom 
had  never  attended  school.  Determined  they  should  know  something, 
in  1870,  she  fitted  up  an  upstairs  room  for  school  purposes,  but  with 
room  for  her  spinning  wheel.  With  no  servant  and  all  the  household 
work,  including  preparing  the  three  meals  each  day,  she  found  time 
for  three  hours  in  the  forenoon  and  three  in  the  afternoon  for  teaching 
and  carding  and  spinning  when  not  hearing  recitations.  The  secret  that 
she  was  teaching  a  school  was  soon  out  and  neighbors'  children  began 
to  conic.  Soon  she  had  no  time  for  carding  and  spinning  nor  place  for 
her  wheel,  for  the  room  was  full  of  children.  She  had  to  occupy  the 
old  schoolhouse  and  on  the  first  day  the  attendance  was  over  forty. 
About  this  time  an  old  gentleman,  John  G.  Elliot,  a  good  Latin  scholar 
and  fine  mathematician,  too  old  for  active  work,  visited  her  and  made 
it  his  home.  Under  him,  she  studied  Latin,  algebra,  geometry  and 
surveying.  She  was  soon  able  to  teacli  them  and  prepared  her  children 
for  college.  For  eighteen  years  she  taught,  and  six  of  her  children 
and  two  of  her  grandchildren  were  teachers.  At  some  time  afterwards 
she  again  taught  her  last  school  being  in  1801,  she  then  being  sixty-six 
years  old. 

In  her  late  years  she  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a  church  at 
Winterville.  A  strong  and  earnest  church  woman  and  worker,  she 
saw  that  church  completed  and  dedicated,  an  enduring  monument  to 
her  zeal  and  energy.  Monday,  October  2d,  1905,  she  saw  the  dedica- 
tion and  consecration  of  that  church.  One  of  her  sons,  Heverend 
Claudius  Smith,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  one  of  her  grandsons, 
Reverend  William  E.  Cox,  whose  ordination  to  the  priesthood,  her  son 
preaching  the  sermon,  she  had  witnessed  the  day  before  at  Greenville, 
and  Bishop  Strange,  took  part  in  these  services.  After  these  services, 
a  family  reunion  dinner,  with  a  number  of  friends  and  relatives  was 
had  on  the  grounds.  Her  \\ork  on  earth  was  near  ing  its  close.  Many 
a  great  life  had  accomplished  less.  A  more  than  fourscore  life,  filled 
with  usefulness,  service  and  blessings  was  ending.  Heady  to  meet  the 
Master,  she  obeyed  his  call,  Monday,  February.  ISth.  1007. 

She  builded  better  than  she  knew. 


248  SKETCHES  OP  PROMINENT 

JOYNER,  OLTHUS  LEELAND,  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Joyner,  was 
born  near  Farmville,  N.  C.,  February  12th,  1869.  His  father,  as  was 
his  grandfather,  Aaron  Joyner,  was  a  planter.  When  the  civil  war 
came  he  was  one  of  the  early  volunteers,  joining  the  Tar  River  Boys, 
who  went  to  Hatteras,  were  later  captured  and  sent  to  Governor's 
Island  then  to  Fort  Warren  near  Boston.  Being  exchanged,  he  again 
volunteered  and  served  throughout  the  war.  His  mother  was  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  H.  and  Nancy  (Cunningham)  Sugg,  of  Greene  county. 

Receiving  a  good  common  school  education  he  early  embarked  into 
the  tobacco  business,  being  one  of  the  pioneer  tobacco  men  and  ware- 
housemen of  Greenville,  and  the  only  man  then  connected  with  the 
market  who  is  so  connected  today.  In  1891  he  with  R.  J.  Coble  and 
others  organized  a  company  for  establishing  a  tobacco  market,  the  old 
Greenville  Warehouse  being  built.  He  was  one  of  the  first  warehouse- 
men. After  many  years  on  the  market  as  a  warehouseman,  in  1903  he 
planned  the  organization  of  The  Farmers  Consolidated  Tobacco  Co.,  and 
that  season  it  began  business  with  one  warehouse.  The  business 
has  continued  to  grow  and  expand  until  it  operates  three  warehouses 
in  Greenville,  one  in  Wilson,  two  in  Kinston,  one  in  Robersonville  and 
one  in  Washington,  and  last  season  its  tota-1  sales  were  14  million 
pounds.  From  the  beginning,  he  has  been  President  and  General  Man- 
ager. He  has  also  found  time  to  engage  in  other  enterprises.  He  is 
also  a  large  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  One  secret  of  his  success  has 
been  advertising.  He  well  knows  and  understands  its  value,  and  is  a 
liberal,  persistent  and  judicious  advertiser.  In  June,  1892,  he  married 
Annie  Lyon,  daughter  of  A.  A.  and  Anastia  Forbes.  Mrs.  Joyner's 
father  is  a  noted  musician  and  served  throughout  the  civil  war. 


CLARltE  HENRY  S.,  was  born  in  Beaufort  county,  18—.  He  re- 
ceived a  fine  college  education,  was  a  large  farmer  and  a  lawyer.  He 
represented  Beaufort  county  in  the  legislature  (House)  in  1832-4-5 
and  was  solicitor  for  the  State  in  1842.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress 
(representative)  1845-7.  He  married  A.  M.  Perkins,  of  Pitt  county, 

and  lived  in  Greenville  many  years.     He  died  in  Greenville   

187..,  and  was  taken  to  Beaufort  county  for  burial.  He  was  an  able 
man  and  also  wealthy.  He  was  one  man  whom  office  did  not  flatter  and 
one  term  in  Congress  gave  him  enough  of  politics.  He  would  not 
accept  a  second  term. 


BLACKLEDGE,  WILLIAM  S.,  of  Craven  county,  who  was  in  Con- 
gress 1821-3,  was  a  native  of  Pitt  county.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
legislature  from  Craven  in  1820.  His  father,  William  Blackledge,  was 
long  a  member  of  the  legislature  from  Craven  in  1797-8-9  and  in  Con- 
gress from  1803-9  and  again  1811-13.  He  was  for  a  while  a  resident  of 
Pitt  county.  He  died  October  19th,  1828.  His  son  died  March  21st 
1857. 


1'ITT    COUNTY    MEN     A.\l)    WOMEN. 


JAMES,  COLONEL  EEH- 
NANDO  COD  I- KEY,  son  of 
.Tolin  G.  and  Mary  H.  James, 
was  horn  at  Hertford,  J'erqui- 
inans  comity,  February  23d, 
1857.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Pitt  county  and  a  dentist. 
In  those  days  dentists  spent 
some  time  in  each  lown  of  his 
circuit,  and  it  was  while  at 
Hertford  that  this  son  was 
horn.  Later  lie  (his  father) 
made  Greenville  his  home  and 
in  addition  to  his  dentistry, 
long  kept  the  old  Hotel  Macon 
and  sales  stables. 

His  grandfather,  William 
James,  came  to  Pitt  county 
from  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Vir- 
ginia and  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Godfrey  Langley. 
who  was  a  very  prominent  farmer  and  business  man. 

He  was  educated  at  the  Pitt  Academy  and  the  University  of  North 
Carolina.  He  was  studying  law  under  Chief  Justice  R.  M.  Pearson 
when  that  aide  jurist  died,  and  his  law  course  was  completed  under 
Smith  and  Strong.  He  was  licensed  in  1S80.  He  returned  to  Green- 
ville and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  as  a  partner  with  the  late 
Colonel  I.  A.  Sugg,  whose  former  partner,  T.  J.  Jarvis,  had  been 
elected  governor.  Later  the  firm  became  that  of  Rodman,  Sugg  & 
JaTiies,  by  the  addition  of  Judge  W.  IT.  Rodman,  of  Washington. 
Judge  Rodman  having  died  some  years  before,  the  firm  of  Sugg  & 
James  dissolved  in  1889,  and  he  practiced  alone.  In  1SS2  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  Greenville  and  held  the  office  continuously  by  re- 
election until  1892,  then  resigned,  having  been  elected  to  the  State 
Senate.  He  was  defeated  for  the  same  office  in  1894  but  elected  again 
in  189S  and  1900,  thus  serving  three  terms.  In  1900  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  democratic  State  executive  committee,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  occupies.  That  year  he  was  also  a  delegate  to  the 
national  democratic  convention  at  Kansas  City  that  nominated  Bryan 
and  Stevenson.  In  1905,  Governor  Glenn  appointed  him  an  officer  of 
his  staff  with  the  title  of  Colonel,  and  on  the  resignation  of  Solicitor 
Moore  of  his  (third)  judicial  district  Governor  Glenn  tendered  him 
the  appointment  of  solicitor,  which  he  declined.  He  is  both  a  Master 
and  a  Roval  Arch  Mason. 


250 


SKETCHES    OF    PKOA1INENT 


In  1882  he  married  Mangie  Cherry,  daughter  of  the  late  J.  B.  Cherry, 
one  of  Greenville's  leading  merchants  and  long  county  treasurer.  Her 
mother  was  Pattie  Sherrod,  a  granddaughter  of  John  Simpson.  They 
have  six  children.  One  son,  James  B.  James,  educated  at  Homer's 
and  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  and  licensed  to  practice  law 
in  1908,  is  now  associated  with  him  in  his  practice  of  law.  Another 
son,  Charlie  James,  is  teller  in  the  Greenville  National  Bank. 


B  A  K  N  H  I  L  L,    MABEL, 

daughter  of  Julius  II.  ;uid  Me- 
lissa A.  Barnliill,  was  born  in 
Bethel  township  on  the  farm. 
Her  father  was  a  young  Con- 
federate in  Company  II,  Tenth 
Regiment  and  when  the  war 
was  over  returned  to  the  farm. 
Her  mother  was  a  daughter  of 
the  late  B.  L.  T.  Barnliill,  an 
ordnance  officer  in  the  Con- 
federate army.  If  is  grand- 
father (her  great-grandfather) 
was  an  officer  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war. 

After  receiving  a  good  high 
school  education,  she  decided 
to  study  pharmacy  and  entered 
the  drug  store  of  Dr.  F.  C. 
James,  in  Bethel,  Marcli  19th, 
1901. 

Dr.  James,  being  a  graduate 

in  pharmacy  as  well  as  medicine,  took  great  care  to  instruct  her  in 
her  chosen  profession.  She  later  took  a  course  at  Page's  School  of 
Pharmacy,  Greensboro,  Xorth  Carolina.  She  was  the  only  woman 
in  the  class  1906.  She  was  one  of  the  ten  of  that  class  who  passed  a 
successful  examination  before  the  Xorth  Carolina  State  Board  of 
Pharmacy  in  Raleigh,  November  2d,  1900,  and  was  granted  license 
to  practice  pharmacy.  She  was  the  third  licensed  female  pharmacist 
in  North  Carolina.  She  returned  to  Bethel  after  receiving  her  license 
and  became  a  partner  with  Dr.  F.  C.  James.  She  is  still  with  him 
and  a  most  valuable  asset  in  his  business  and  practice.  She  is  busi- 
ness manager  of  the  Matinee  Drug  Co. 

She  now  ranks  among  the  most  skilled,  efficient  and  popular  in  the 
profession.  She  became  a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  Pharmaceuti- 
cal Association  on  July  the  8th,  1908. 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN     AND    WOMEN.  l'51 

HARDING,  MAJOR  IIKXKV,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Eli/.abcth  Hani 
ing,  was  born  at  Cliocowinity,  Bonn  fort  count}',  May  8tb,  183(5.  His 
father  was  a  fanner,  captain  of  militia  in  1812-15  and  a  Justice  of 
tl-c  Peace  near  all  his  life.  His  grandfather  was  a  major  under  Gen- 
eral  Greene  in  the  Revolution.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  New  England.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Patrick,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  who  was  with  Arnold  on  hi* 
expedition  to  Quebec  in  1775. 

Major  Harding  was  raised  on  the  farm,  working  and  attending 
school,  finishing  from  Trinity  Parochial  School,  at  (  hocowinity,  with 
a  good  academic  education.  He  then  began  teaching  and  had  been 
teaching  five  years,  when  he  left  the  schoolhouse  for  the  field  of  war, 
volunteering  in  Captain  Swindell's  company,  which  went  to  Hatteras. 
and  at  the  expiration  of  twelve  months,  for  which  it  had  enlisted, 
disbanded.  Governor  Vance  then  commissioned  him  Captain  to  raise 
a  company.  This  company  went  into  the  Sixty-first  Regiment  as 
Company  B.  He  was  later'  promoted  Major  of  the  regiment.  The 
regiment  saw  much  service  in  Virginia,  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia. 
In  18G3  it  was  encamped  on  James  Island,  near  Charleston.  On 
another  part  of  the  island  were  a  lot  of  negro  soldiers.  The  United 
States  gunboat  Chippewa  was  lying  in  Stono  river  to  protect  them. 
Major  Harding  conceived  a  plan  to  capture  it.  Karly  one  morning  in 
July,  1803,  his  regiment  made  the  charge,  succeeding  in  getting  to 
the  boat  but  could  not  scale  its  sides.  The  guns  of  the  boat  could 
not  be  lowered  enough  to  reach  the  Confederates  and  any  appearance 
over  the  sides  of  the  boat  was  an  invitation  for  a  ball.  So  the  boat 
could  do  nothing  but  weigh  anchor  and  float  down  the  river.  But  not 
before  several  on  the  boat  had  been  killed  and  the  boat  damaged.  As 
the  boat  swung  around  the  regiment  had  to  seek  shelter,  as  grape  and 
canister  were  flying  thick.  However,  only  one  Confederate,  R.  A.  Davis, 
private  in  Company  F,  was  wounded.  lie  died  in  a  few  minutes.  The 
regiment  then  charged  on  the  negro  soldiers,  drove  them  from  the  island 
with  great  loss.  Those  negroes  who  did  not  run  may  be  there  yet. 
All  their  camp  and  supplies  were  captured  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
Returning  from  the  war.  he  went  to  work  on  the  farm  and  in  IStiG  was 
elected  to  the  legislature  (House).  In  1876  he  was  elected  a  county 
commissioner  and  was  twice  reelected.  In  18S5  he  moved  to  Greenville. 
He  had  served  four  years  on  the  Board  of  Education,  when  in  1889,  on 
the  death  of  Superintendent  Josephus  Latham,  he  was  elected  county 
superintendent  to  fill  the  vacancy  He  held  this  position  four  years. 
In  1802  he  was  elected  register  of  deeds,  and  since  the  expiration  of 
that  term,  with  the  exception  of  two  years,  he  has  been  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  is  senior  warden  of  the  Episcopal  church,  was  long  a  lay 
reader,  teacher  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School.  He  is  a  Past 
Master  Mason  and  a  democrat. 


252 


SKETCHES    OF    PROMINENT 


In  1867  he  married  Susan  Sugg,  daughter  of  Benjamin  H.  and  Nancy 
Sugg,  of  Greene  county.  They  have  six  children,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Their  sons  are  F.  C.  Harding,  a  lawyer  of  Greenville;  W.  F. 
Harding,  a  lawyer  of  Charlotte;  H  P.  Harding,  superintendent  of  Char- 
lotte graded  schools,  and  J.  B.  Harding,  engaged  in  railroad  work  in 
Mexico. 


CHERRY,  JAMES  BURTOX, 

son    of    William    and    

Cherry,  was  born  January, 
1840.  His  father  was  a  far- 
mer and  he  was  raised  on  the 
farm.  He  was  educated  at  Pitt 
Academy,  Asheville,  and  Hor- 
ner's,  and  was  merchandising 
before  he  was  twenty-one  years 
old.  He  was  clerk  of  the  County 
Court  and  Master  in  Equity 
during  the  war  of  1861-5.  In 
1864  he  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  Superior  Court  and  held  it 
four  years.  All  this  time  he  had 
continued  his  mercantile  busi- 
ness. He  had  been  associated 
with  his  brother,  J.  J.  Cherry, 
but  bought  his  interest  and  a 
few  years  thereafter,  1868, 
took  T.  R.  Cherry  as  a  partner, 
the  firm  being  T.  R.  Cherry  & 

Company.  This  partnership  lasted  until  1888,  when  T.  R.  Cherry  re- 
tired. A  few  years  later  lie  associated  with  him  in  the  business  J.  R. 
and  J.  G.  Move,  the  firm  then  being  J.  B.  Cherry  and  Company.  This 
partnership  continued  to  his  death.  In  1874  he  was  elected  treasurer  of 
Pitt  county  and  held  the  office  continuously  by  re-election  until  1890, 
when  he  declined  a  reelection.  But  in  1898  he  was  again  elected  treas- 
urer and  twice  thereafter  reelected,  when  he  positively  declined  to  be 
a  candidate  for  reelection.  Altogether  he  was  clerk  of  the  court  eight 
years  and  treasurer  twenty-two  years,  with  a  record  of  efficiency  and 
popularity  to  be  justly  proud  of. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a  Pythian.  He  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Pattie  Sherrod,  a  granddaughter  of 
John  Simpson;  his  second  was  Ada  Pearce,  daughter  of  B.  C.  Pearce. 
There  is  one  child  by  the  first  wife,  Mrs.  F.  G.  James,  and  one  by 
the  second,  J.  B.  Cherry,  Jr. 
He  died  March  13th,  1905. 


PITT    COUNTY    MEN    AND    WOMEN.  l':>.» 

SMITH,  JOHN  RICHARD,  born  May  18th,  1S(5S, 
SMITH,  ROBERT  WILLIAMS,  horn  November  lltli,  1809  •  '' 
Tlic  lives  and  work  of  tlicsc  t\vo  brothers  have  been  so  closely 
blended  that  a  sketch  of  one  is  almost  a  sketch  of  the  other,  therefore, 
it  is  best  to  give  them  together.  From  infancy  to  manhood  and  on, 
their  career,  their  interests  have  been  as  one  Their  father,  Theophilus 
Smith,  was  a  farmer,  as  was  also  their  grandfather,  William  Smith. 
Their  father  was  a  Confederate  soldier  and  died  when  they  were  quite 
young.  In  1878  they  went  to  Oxford,  North  Carolina,  where  they  re- 
mained two  years  at  the  asylum,  then  under  Dr.  Mills.  Ill  health  of 
their  mother  called  them  home  and  they  again  took  up  the  work  of 
her  farm.  She  died  in  1888  and  the  next  year  they  went  to  Winter- 
ville,  as  clerks  for  A.  G.  Cox,  who  took  more  than  a  business  interest  in 
them  and  tjicir  future.  He  aided  and  encouraged  them  in  the  opening 
of  a  store  in  1891,  John  having  charge  of  that  business,  Robert  remain- 
ing with  Mr.  Cox  until  181)3,  when  the  business  demanded  the  services 
of  both,  Robert  also  went  to  Ayden.  Their  business  has  had  a  phe- 
nomenal growth  and  they  are  interested  in  many  of  the  most  successful 
enterprises  of  their  town.  The  Bank  of  Ayden,  with  $10,000  capital, 
was  organized  in  1903.  They  were  the  largest  stockholders  and  John 
was  elected  cashier,  which  position  he  still  holds.  The  business  of  the 
bank  has  grown  and  the  capital  stock  is  now  $25.000.  In  May,  1002, 
a  disastrous  fire  destroyed  much  of  the  business  section  of  Ayden  and 
their  losses  were  very  heavy.  Again  in  January.  190t>,  they  were  severe 
losers  by  fire.  This  year  they  incorporated  their  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  The  J.  R.  Smith  Company,  with  a  paid  in  capital  of 
$25,000,  the  authorized  capital  being  $100.000.  Of  the  new  firm,  John 
is  President  and  Robert  is  Vice-President.  Their  business  is  very  ex- 
tensive, reaching  out  to  at  least  four  counties.  In  190S  this  firm 
bought  out  the  Ayden  Milling  and  Manufacturing  Company,  a  company 
with  $15,000  capital  stock.  They  had  been  interested  in  this  concern 
since  its  organization.  John  is  also  president  of  the  Ayden  Loan  and 
Insurance  Company,  another  enterprise  that  is  doing  much  for  the  up- 
building of  the  town  and  vicinity.  They  have  recently  bought  out  the 
East  Carolina  Land  and  Development  Company,  and  will  develop  much 
property  in  and  around  Ayden.  They  own  much  real  estate  in  Pitt, 
Craven  and  Greene  counties.  Both  are  members  of  the  Christian  (Dis- 
ciple) church  and  prominent  in  church  work.  They  are  both  Masons 
and  Odd  Fellows. 

John  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Elder  Fred  McGlohon.  a  Free  Will 
Brptist  minister  and  a  farmer,  who  was  a  representative  in  the  Legisla- 
ture of  1893.  They  have  two  children,  daughters,  living.  Robert  mar- 
ried Cora,  daughter  of  W.  F.  Hart,  a  farmer.  They  have  four  children, 
sons,  living. 


254  SKETCHES  OF  PROMINENT 

BLOW,  ALEXANDER  LILLINGTON,  son  of  William  J.  and  Dorcas 
S.  Blow,  was  born  in  Greenville,  June  29th,  1851.  His  father  was  a  well- 
known  physician  and  a  representative  in  the  legislature  (House)  from 
Pitt  county  ten  years,  from  1848  to  1858.  In  the  war  of  1861-5  he  was 
a  surgeon  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment.  His  grandfather,  James 
Blow,  was  a  large  farmer,  in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Masters,  of  Hyde  county,  who  was  a 
representative  in  the  legislature  (Senate)  from  Hyde  in  1800. 

Mr.  Blow  was  attending  the  common  schools  when  in  the  latter  part 
of  March,  1865,  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Texas  Regiment,  then  in  Gen- 
eral Johnston's  army.  After  General  Johnston's  surrender  near  Dur- 
ham, he  returned  home  and  entered  Pitt  Academy  where  he  finished  his 
education.  He  then  became  a  clerk  in  a  store.  Later  he  studied  law 
under  Colonel  Yellowly  and  was  licensed  in  January,  1874.  Shortly  he 
became  associated  with  J.  T.  Lyon,  in  the  publication  of  The  Iteyister, 
a  weekly  paper,  published  in  Greenville.  In  September  of  that  year,  he 
was  elected  register  of  deeds  for  the  county  and  withdrew  from  the 
pnper  business.  He  held  that  office  by  reelection  until  1881,  when  he 
was  appointed  clerk  of  the  Superior  court  to  succeed  Henry  Sheppard, 
deceased.  Pie  held  that  office  to  the  end  of  that  term,  one  year.  He 
was  solicitor  of  the  Inferior  court  two  years.  He  was  a  town  alderman 
in  1881  and  again  in  1900,  serving  the  two  terms  of  two  years  each. 
In  1902  he  was  elected  State  Senator  and  again  in  1908.  He  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  democratic  county  executive  committee  in  1874  and 
held  that  position  until  1904.  From  1874  to  1883  he  was  secretary  to 
the  committee  and  from  1883  to  1904  he  was  chairman.  For  many 
years  he  was  attorney  for  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners.  He 
first  began  the  practice  of  law  in  1874. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  is  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Tmstees.  He  is  a  Master  Mason  and  has  been  prominent  in 
Masonic  circles  and  work. 

In  1874  he  married  Alice  M.  Monteiro,  of  Virginia.  They  have  seven 
children,  all  living. 


GRIMES,  JOHN  BRYAN,  son  of  General  Bryan  Grimes  and  Char- 
lotte Emily  Bryan,  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  John  H.  Bryan,  was  born 
at  Raleigh.  N.  C.,  June  3,  1868,  but  he  has  lived  since  his  infancy  at 
Grimesland,  Pitt  County.  Educated  at  private  schools,  Raleigh  Male 
Academy.  Trinity  School  (Chocowinity,  N.  ('.),  Lynch's  High  School 
(High  Point.  N.  C.),  University  of  North  Carolina,  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College  (Baltimore.  Md.),  Farmer  and  business  man;  mem- 
ber State  Farmers'  Alliance;  aide-de-camp  on  staff  Governor  Elias  Carr 
with  rank  of  colonel;  member  State  Board  of  Agriculture  1899  and 
1900;  President  North  Carolina  Tobacco  Growers  Association  1900; 
Chairman  North  Carolina  Historical  Commission;  member  Executive 
Committee  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association:  Vice-President 


PITT    COUNTY     MKX     AX  I)    WOMK.N.  '!.)',> 

and  member  Board  of  Managers  Xortli  Carolina  Society  Suns  of  the 
Revolution;  member  Executive  Committoe  Trustees  of  Cniversity  of 
North  Carolina;  Chairman  Democratic  Executive  Committee  Chicod 
Township  1SOO  to  1000.  .Always  active  in  politics.  Kndorscd  by  I'itt 
County  and  several  parts  of  the  First  Congressional  District  for  Demo- 
cratic nomination  for  Congress  in  1S98,  but  declined  to  become  a  can- 
didate. Elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1000.  again  in  1901  and  again  in 
190S.  In  1!K)8  leading  the  State  ticket  both  in  the  majority  and  in 
the  number  of  votes  received.  Belongs  to  following  fraternal  orders: 
A.  V.  Si  A.  M.;  Knights  of  Pythias;  J.  ().  I'.  A.  M.  and  Uoyal  Arcanum. 
Married  November  14,  1904,  Mary  Octavia  Laughinghousc,  who  died 
December  2,  190!),  and  on  February  3,  1904,  to  Eli/abeth  Forrest  Laugli- 
inghouse. Children  by  first  wife,  Helen  Flise  Crimes,  and  by  last  mar- 
riage, John  Bryan  Crimes,  Jr.,  and  Charles  O'Hagan  Crimes. 


WILLIAMS,  WILLIS  ROBERT,  was  born  near  Falkland  September 
3d,  1820,  in  the  house  in  which  he  lived  and  died.  His  father  was 
Robert  Williams,  a  sou  of  John  Williams,  prominent  in  Revolutionary 
history  of  Pitt  county.  John  was  a  son  of  Robert  Williams,  a  Welsh- 
man, who  first  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  but  came  to  North  Carolina  in 
1727,  settling  near  Falkland  where  be  bought  several  thousand  acres 
of  land. 

Left  au  orphan  when  young.  Mr.  Williams  was  reared  and  educated 
by  an  uncle,  who  gave  him  a  fine  college  education.  As  a  young  man,  he 
was  prominent  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  school  committee,  mem- 
ber of  the  County  Board  of  Education  and  examiner  of  teachers.  Some 
time  in  the  latter  GO's  lie  was  made  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  at  dif- 
ferent periods  held  this  office  more  than  twenty  years,  lie  was  promi- 
nent in  the  Grange  movement,  was  master  of  the  li:cal  and  later  of  the 
State  Grange,  lie  was  often  a  delegate  to  the  National  Grange,  lie 
served  long  on  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  director  of  State 
institutions.  His  legislative  career  began  in  ISStJG  when  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  House.  At  that  session  he  introduced  a  bill  to  pen-don 
the  Confederate  soldiers,  it  being  the  first  effort  of  the  kind  in  the 
South.  However  the  bill  failed  to  become  a  law.  Tie  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate  in  1SS4  and  reflected  in  l^ti.  1SSS  and  1^90.  Tie 
was  a  candidate  for  Superior  Court  Clerk  in  1S94.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Greenville  Lodge  of  Masons  and  a  member  of  the  Christian 
(Disciple)  church. 

Early  in  life  he  married  Harriet  P..  daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  II. 
Leary.  of  Edcnton.  who  preceded  him  to  the  grave.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  five  boys  and  three  girls.  After  her  death  he 
led  a  retired  life  on  his  farm,  where  he  died  September  7th.  19]0.  lieiiiLT 
eighty-three  years  and  four  days  old. 

Though  always  feeble,  he  was  an  active  man   and   interested   in   public 


25G  SKETCH KS  OF 

affairs.  He  was  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
College  at  Raleigh.  He  always  championed  the  cause  of  the  farmer  and 
was  really  the  father  of  the  six  per  cent  interest  law,  though  he  did 
not  secure  its  enactment.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 
sixty  or  more  years  and  perhaps  attended  more  State  conferences  than 
any  other  layman:  he  was  a  Mason  more  than  fifty  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  thorough  education,  extensive  information,  wide  travel  and 
broad  views. 

WOOTEX,  FRANCIS  MARION,  son  of  Robert  L.  and  Julia  A. 
Wooten,  was  born  at  LaGrange,  N.  C.,  August  4th,  1875.  His  father 
was  a  farmer.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  M.  R.  C.  Loftin  and 
Julia  Parker  Loftin. 

He  was  educated  at  Columbia  College,  New  York,  and  the  University 
of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill.  Taking  up  pharmacy,  he  was  li- 
censed in  1897  and  in  1904  he  located  at  Greenville,  where  he  had 
lived  several  years  prior  to  1897.  While  a  pharmacist  and  engaged 
in  the  business  lie  took  up  the  study  of  law,  was  licensed  to  practice  in 
1905  and  began  practice  at  Greenville.  In  190..  he  was  elected  Mayor, 
v.-hich  office  he  then  held  two  terms.  In  1910  lie  was  again  elected 
Mayor  to  fill  an  unexpired  term.  Thus  he  now  combines  pharmacy, 
law  and  executive  duties.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  and 
a  "lay  reader."  He  is  a  Mason,  with  his  membership  witli  Unanimity 
Lodge  at  Edenton,  North  Carolina.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Tar  River 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Greenville,  North  Carolina.  He  is  an  active 
business  man,  a  good  lawyer  and  popular  Mayor. 

July  7th,  1909,  he  married  Elizabeth  Hampton  Wade,  a  daughter  of 
Wade,  of  Farmville,  Virginia. 


JARVIS,  THOMAS  JORDAN,  was  born  in  Currituck  county,  North 
Carolina,  January  18th,  1830.  He  began  life  as  a  school  teacher,  grad- 
uating from  Randolph-Macon  College,  Virginia,  in  ISflO.  In  1801  he 
closed  his  school  and  enlisted  in  Company  R,  Eighth  regiment,  and  was 
promoted  from  Lieutenant  to  Captain.  At  Drewry's  Bluff  in  1SG4  he 
was  severely  wounded,  his  right  arm  having  been  useless  since.  Return- 
ing In >ii:e  after  the  war  he  moved  to  Tyrrell  county  and  was  elected  to 
tlic  Andrew  .lohiison  State  ('(invention  of  1805.  lie  was  licensed  to 
practice  law  in  180(5.  In  1SGS  he  was  a  Seymour  and  Blair  candidate 
for  elector  as  well  as  a  candidate  for  the  legislature,  being  elected  to 
the  latter,  lie  was  reelected  in  1870  and  elected  Speaker  of  the  House. 
In  1S72  he  moved  to  Pitt  county  and  was  a  (lively  and  Brown  candi- 
date for  elector.  With  W.  M.  King  he  was  elected  to  Represent  Pitt 
county  in  the  Constitutional  convention  of  1875.  Tn  ]s7t;  ]H.  was  elected 
Lieutenant  Governor  on  the  ticket  with  7.  R.  Vance,  nnd  071  the  elec- 


1'ITT    COUNTY     MKN     AM)    WOMEN.  '2.)  t 

tion  of  Governor  Vance  to  the  United  States  Senate  lie  became  Governor 
February  5th,  1870.  In  1880  he  was  elected  Governor  for  the  full 
term,  thus  serving  six  years.  In  March,  1885,  President  Cleveland  ap 
pointed  him  Minister  to  Brazil,  where  he  remained  four  years.  On  the 
death  of  Senator  Vance  Governor  Carr  appointed  him  United  States 
Senator,  April  MHh,  1895,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term.  Since  then  he  has 
devoted  himself  to  his  profession,  though  taking  an  active  interest  in 
public  matters. 

^ 

LATHAM,  REVEREND  JOSEPHUS,  son  of  I  l.omas  ,1.  and  Nancy  <  . 
Latham,  was  born  at  Pantego,  Beaufort  County,  North  Carolina,  June 
6th,  1828.  His  father  was  one  of  the  pioneer  ministers  of  the  Chris 
tian  (Disciple)  church  in  North  Carolina  and  was  also  a  large  land 
owner,  with  many  slaves.  He  received  a  good  common  school  educa- 
tion. At  fifteen  years  of  age  he  became  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  at  Pantego,  behig  baptized  by  his  father.  Three  years  later, 
when  he  was  only  eighteen,  he  became  a  minister  of  that  church  and 
made  that  his  life  work,  though  he  was  also  a  farmer  and  gave  much 
attention  to  educational  work,  teaching  at  various  times  and  places. 
He  taught  the  Farmville  High  School  many  years  and  many  of  the  suc- 
cessful men  of  that  section,  and  others,  received  their  training  under 
him.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pitt  County  Board  of  Education  and 
County  Superintendent  from  1SS3  to  1889. 

After  many  years  itinerary,  during  which  tie  served  the  Kinston 
church  several  years,  he  made  his  home  on  bis  farm  near  Greenville  and 
was  for  many  years  pastor  of  Mount  Pleasant.  During  his  ministry, 
only  sickness,  the  performance  of  some  other  sacred  duty  or  unavoid- 
able circumstances,  made  him  miss  preaching  every  Sunday  in  the  year. 
And  besides,  he  held  many  revival  meetings  and  preached  at  other 
times.  During  his  ministry  he  baptized  about  3.000  persons  and  mar- 
ried near  500  couples.  He  died  April  27th,  1880,  aged  CO  years,  10 
months  and  21  days,  and  was  buried  in  Mount  Pleasant  cemetery  near 
his  home.  A  marble  tomb  marks  his  grave. 

For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  Covenant  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows 
at  Greenville  and  was  also  a  Knight  of  Honor.  He  was  a  strong  pro- 
hibitionist and  all  his  life  a  total  abstainer.  He  was  utterly  unselfish. 
and  spent  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  Master  and  for  his  fellow  man. 

One  cold  day  he  met  a  Confederate  soldier,  who  was  barefooted  and 
not  too  well  clothed.  After  a  short  conversation  with  the  soldier,  he 
pulled  off  his  shoes  and  socks  and  gave  them  to  the  soldier. 

May  31st,  1852,  he  married  Martha  Brown,  daughter  of  Alfred  L. 
and  Nancy  E.  Brown,  Reverend  John  P.  Dunn  officiating.  At  the  age 
of  81  years  his  widow,  with  two  of  their  children,  survive  him. 

(She  died  September,  1910.) 

17 


258 


SKETCHES    OF    PROMINENT 


KING,  RICHARD  WAR- 
REX,  third  son  of  Thomas  and 
Martha  A.  (Turnage)  King, 
was  born  near  what  is  now 
Earmville,  September  llth, 
1858.  Receiving  a  common 
school  education,  lie  began 
clerking  in  a  country  store  be- 
fore he  was  grown.  Later  in 
other  business  he  canvassed 
much  of  the  Eastern  counties. 
Tu  1882  he  was  appointed  dep- 
uty sheriff  under  Sheriff  King, 
which  position  he  held  for  the 
three  terms  of  his  uncle.  In 
1888  J.  A.  K.  Tucker  was 
elected  sheriff  and  he  was  con- 
tinued in  office  of  deputy 
sheriff  for  the  two  terms  of 
Sheriff  Tucker.  So  acceptably 
and  efficiently  had  he  per- 
formed the  duties  of  deputy 
for  ten  years  that  in  1802  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  for  the 
office  of  sheriff  and  elected  at  the  following  election.  In  18D4  the 
county  commissioners  refused  to  accept  the  bond  of  sheriff-elect,  W.  H. 
Harrington,  and  appointed  him  sheriff  for  the  ensuing  two  years. 
Having  served  altogether  fourteen  years  in  the  office  he  was  not  a 
candidate  for  renomination  in  189G.  In  1906  he  was  elected  a  county 
commissioner  and  under  that  administration,  the  steel  bridges  at 
Greenville  and  Orifton  were  built.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  politics  and  served  on  man}-  committees,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county,  district  and  many  other  committees.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  (Disciple)  church  and  a  Mason. 

September  28th.   1891,  he  married  Mattie  E.,  daughter  of  W.  B.  and 
Mattie  E.    (Edwards)    Move.     Thev  have  seven  children  living. 


SK1XNKR.  COLONEL  HARRY,  son  of  James  C.  and  Elmira  W. 
Skinner,  was  born  in  Perquimans  county,  May  25th,  1855.  His  father 
was  a  member  of  the  legislature  (House)  several  times  from  Chowan 
county  and  also  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Perquimans  county  near  forty 
years.  His  grandfather,  Henry  Skinner,  represented  Chowan  county  a 
number  of  times  in  the  legislature  in  both  Houses  and  later  represented 
Perquimans  many  terms  in  both  houses  of  the  legislature.  He  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council.  His  great-grandfather,  William 
Skinner,  represented  1'erquimans  at  the  Halifax  Convention  of  177G, 


I'ITT    COTNTY    MEN     AND    VVOMK5..  259 

and  on  tlie  organization  of  troops  in  1770  WHS  elected  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  lie  was  later  promoted  Brigadier  General.  The  Skinners 
were  from  England  and  among  the  early  settlers  of  Albemarle,  where 
they  became  large  planters  and  slave  owners  and  very  influential.  Hi- 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Allen  Ward,  a  large  planter. 

Colonel  Skinner  was  prepared  for  college  at  Hertford  Academy  and 
graduated  from  Kentucky  University  at  Lexington  with  degree  of  L.  H 
in  1875.  He  had  studied  law  and  was  sworn  in  as  yn  attorney  at  Lex- 
ington, hut  coming  to  Greenville,  lie  continued  its  study  under  Major 
L.  ('.  Latham  and  was  licensed  in  North  Carolina  in  187<>.  He  at  once 
formed  a.  partnership  with  'Major  Latham.  In  1878  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  democratic  congressional  committee.  From  1 SSO  to 
1881  lie  was  chairman  of  the  Pitt  county  democratic  executive  com 
mittee  and  in  1883  also  chairman  of  the  congressional  committee.  In 
1888  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  (House),  and  being  a  strong 
Allianceinan  tock  a  prominent  part  in  matters  pertaining  to  its  cause. 
When  it  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  populist  party,  he  was  one  of 
its  organi/ers  and  an  active  participant  in  its  proceedings.  Ho  can 
vussed  the  State  in  1802.  and  was  the  populist  candidate  for  Congress  in 
the  first  district  in  1894.  Tie  was  elected  and  reelected  in  l^Oii.  but 
was  defeated  in  1898.  lie  is  now  the  only  living  ex-representative  of 
the  first  district. 

In  1901  lie  was  appointed  I'nited  States  District  Attorney  l'»r  the 
F.:>stern  District  of  Xorth  Carolina  by  President  McKinley.  and  re 
appointed  in  1905  by  President  Roosevelt.  Since  the  expiration  of  his 
second  term  he  lias  devoted  himself  to  his  large  law  practice  in  both  the 
State  and  Federal  Courts.  lie  is  a  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fclhiw.  He  is 
public  spirited  and  enterprising  and  principally  through  his  efforts  a 
building  and  really  the  public  school  for  Greenville  resulted,  which 
grew  into  the  graded  school. 

Colonel  Skinner  lias  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Mi^s 
Monteiro,  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  one 
of  whom,  Harry  Skinner.  Jr..  an  able  and  bright  young  lawyer,  with 
great  promise  of  a  useful  and  brilliant  career,  lost  his  life  in  an  auto- 
mobile accident  near  Greenville,  November  3d,  1900.  His  second  wife 
was  Ella  Montiero.  of  C.reeifYiHe.  bv  whom  lie  has  one  son. 


LArGIIINGIIOUSK,  CAPTAIN  JOSKPH  JOHN,  son  of  Joseph  11. 
and  J.  A.  Laughinghouse,  was  born  in  Pitt  county,  October  4th.  1S47 
When  Thomas  Laughinghouse  came  to  America  about  1750  lie  left  his 
brothers  engaged  in  the  wholesale  grain  business  in  Liverpool.  Their 
descendants  have  continued  the  business  to  the  present  time.  Thoma^ 
settled  in  Pitt  (then  Beaufort)  county.  John,  a  son  of  Thomas,  w.-i- 
an  oflicer  in  the  Revolution,  serving  under  General  Washington  and 
was  with  him  at  Yorktown.  John  had  three  sons,  Thomas,  who  went 

18 


SKETCHES    OF    PltOMIXENT 

to  Arkansas:  (Judge  George  Laughinghouse  of  that  State  was  one  of 
his  descendants;)  Joseph,  who  went  to  Alabama;  and  Edward  L.,  who 
remained  in  Pitt  and  became  a  large  planter.  Edward  L.  had  three  chil- 
dren, William  J.,  John  H.  and  Annie.  Annie  married  F.  B.  Satter- 
thwaite.  John  H.,  who,  like  his  father,  was  a  large  planter,  was  the 
father  of  Joseph  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Captain  Laughinghouse's  father  died  in  November,  1802,  and  left  him 
practically  in  charge  of  his  mother's  business.  She  died  in  March, 
1803.  He  then  went  to  Homer's  Military  school,  where  he  remained 
until  April,  1864,  leaving  school  to  join  the  Junior  Reserves,  composed 
of  seventeen-year-old  boys,  Company  H,  Seventy-first  Regiment,  of  which 
company  he  was  elected  First  Lieutenant,  and  the  following  October 
(1st)  four  days  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  he  was  promoted 
Captain.  He  is  said  t;>  have  been  tl'.e  youngest  Captain  of  any  North 
Carolina  troops.  The  first  four  months  after  his  enlistment  he  served 
as  Adjutant  of  his  regiment.  The  regiment  was  in  General  Hoke's  Di- 
vision of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  army  the  last  four  months  of 
the  war. 

After  the  war  Captain  Laughinghouse  taught  school  a  year,  clerked 
a  year  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  was  engaged  in  the  shingle  business, 
making  some  money.  His  father's  estate,  somewhat  encumbered,  had 
suffered  heavily  by  the  war,  necessitating  the  sale  of  the  land  in  1869. 
He  became  the  purchaser,  and  went  to  work  with  a  will  to  redeem  it. 
and  in  time  was  successful.  He  has  always  been  an  active  democrat 
and  has  served  many  years  as  committeeman,  both  of  his  township, 
county  and  State.  He  was  almost  a  lifelong  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He 
was  four  years  an  Associate  "Justice  of  the  County  Inferior  Court. 

In  1904  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  (House)  and  re- 
elected  in  1900.  In  1909  Governor  Kitchin  appointed  him  Superin- 
tendent of  the  State  prison  and  farms.  Under  his  management  the 
earnings  of  the  first  year  were  more  than  doubled.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  county's  largest  and  most  successful  farmers  and  at  one  time 
was  said  to  be  the  largest  tobacco  grower  in  the  State.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent Mason. 

In  1870  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  C.  J.  O'Hagan. 
They  have  three  children  living:  Dr.  C.  O'H.  Laughinghouse  of  Green- 
ville, Mrs.  J.  Bryan  Grimes  of  Raleigh,  and  Ned  Laughinghouse  of 
Greenville. 

LATHAM,  MAJOR  LOUIS  CHARLES,  son  of  Charles  Latham,  was 
born  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  September  llth,  1840.  His  father  was  a 
prominent  lawyer  of  Plymouth. 

Major  Latham  was  prepared  for  college  in  the  Plymouth  schools  and 
graduated  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1859.  He  read 
law  under  Judge  7\sa  Biggs  and  then  attended  Harvard  Law  School. 


1MTT    COUNTY    MEN     AiNI)    WOMKN.  ZOl 

Tlie  events  of  1SOO-1  interrupted  liis  studies.  lie  returned  home,  volun- 
teered, and  May  '20,  IKfil,  was  made  Captain  of  Company  G,  First  Regi- 
ment. He  was  wounded  at  Sharpaburg  and  soon  thereafter  promoted 
Major  of  tlic  regiment,  lie  commanded  the  regiment  at  ( 'hanccllor>- 
ville  and  was  wounded  at  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  1SHL  Recovering 
he  again  joined  the  army  and  surrendered  with  General  Lee.  at  Appo 
mattox.  While  at  home  in  18(14  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
(House).  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  his  law  studies  and  was 
soon  licensed  to  practice.  In  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate 
and  in  the  absence  of  Judge  Warren,  President  of  the  Senate,  he  was 
always  chosen  to  preside.  He  was  a  candidate  for  the  democratic  con 
gressional  nomination  in  1872,  74  and  78,  but  defeated,  and  in  1880  was 
nominated  by  acclamation  and  also  elected.  He  was  again  a  candidate 
in  1882,  but  was  defeated  by  W.  F.  Pool.  He  came  to  Greenville  in 
1875  and  was  a  Tilden  and  ITendricks  elector  in  187(5.  In  18%  he  was 
again  a  candidate  and  elected  to  Congress.  After  this  term  he  devoted 
himself  to  his  profession,  being  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  eloquent 
lawyers  in  the  State.  lie  died  October  IGth,  1805. 

Major  Latham  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Xor- 
cum,  of  Plymouth,  by  whom  he  had  one  child.  His  second  wife  was  a 
Miss  Montiero,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  one 
of  whom  is  now  United  States  Consul. 


MOORF,  DAVID  COLUMBUS,  son  of  David  and  Arcenia  Moore,  was 
born  September  18th.  1850.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  had  two 
sons  in  the  Confederate  army. 

Mr.  Moore  received  a  common  school  education  and  farmed  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  1877  he  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  twenty  years.  In  1878  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
legislature  (House)  and  reelected  in  1880.  Having  moved  to  Bethel  he 
was  first  elected  Mayor  in  1876  and  by  reelection  he  was  Mayor  six- 
teen years.  In  1885  lie  was  elected  member  of  the  County  P.oard  of 
Education,  serving  two  years.  In  1891-92  he  was  deputy  register  of 
deeds  under  D.  II.  James,  and  also  in  1893  under  Major  Harding.  In 
1S98  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  Superior  Court  and  reelected  in  1902, 
190G  and  1910.  He  is  an  active  democrat  and  has  served  as  member  of 
both  his  township  and  county  executive  committees.  lie  is  an  Odd 
Fellow  and  a  Red  Man. 

In  1875  he  married  Martha  C.  Andrews,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  A.  Andrews.  They  have  four  children:  Andrew  J.,  assistant 
cashier  Greenville  Banking  and  Trust  Company:  Thomas  J.,  teller  of 
the  Murchison  National  Bank  of  Wilmington;  A.  Thurman,  deputy 
clerk  of  Pitt  Superior  Court,  and  David  C.  Jr..  attending  school. 


SKKTCIIKS    OK    PROMINENT 


DAVIS,  ROBERT  L  A  N  G  . 
oldest  son  of  B.  A.  and  Mary 
A.  Davis,  was  born  in  Pitt 
County,  March  3d,  1856.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  member 
of  Company  F.  Sixty-first  Regi- 
ment, war  of  1861-5,  and  was 
killed  near  Charleston,  S.  C., 
July?  ISti:?,  in  an  infantry  at- 
tack upon  a  Federal  gunboat. 
II  i  s  grandfather,  Benjamin 
Davis,  was  a  farmer.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Rob 
ert  and  Mariah  Lang. 

Mi'.  Davis  was  reared  on  the 
farm  and  hi-  educational  ad- 
vantages, were  limited.  When 
sixteen  years  old  he  began 
clerking  in  the  store  of  his 
uncle.  W.  Ci.  Lang.  Seven 
years  later,  1879,  he  began 
business  himself  in  Farmville. 


n   \V.    I! 

i!..  Mi-,  lloin;  \vitlidir\\  'n  ISSIi.  In  IS-):!  his  brother-.  Francis  M. 
and  .Jehu  1!.  Davi-  were  taken  into  the  business,  the  firm  becoin- 
L.  l)a\i>  and  Brothers,  which  it  has  continued  since, 
irst  bark  in  Pitt  County,  the  Bank  of  Greenville,  was  organized 
i.  and  II.  L.  Davis,  of  Farmville.  a  large  stockholder,  was  its 
president,  and  is  no\v.  having  serveil  continuously.  He  was  elected  a 
county  commissioner  in  191)0  and  reelected  in  1902.  lie  has  served  his 
town  In  tli  as  n:ayor  and  alderman,  and  bis  people  in  many  other  capaci- 
ties. He  has  ever  been  foremost  in  promoting  the  industry  and  enter- 
prises of  liis  to\vn  and  section.  Among  such  and  in  which  he  has  been 
a  prime  mover,  are.  the  Hank  of  Farmville.  organized  in  1901.  of  which 
he  has  been  its  only  president:  the  Farmville  tobacco  market,  opened 
in  ]!!(>."):  the  Fannville  district  graded  school:  the  Farmville  oil  mills, 
no\v  about  ready  to  begin  operations,  of  which  he  is  president  :  and  a 
number  of  other  enterprises. 

When  Mi\  Davis  began  business  in  1S79  his  capital  was  limited  and 
competition  almost  deathdealing.  but  by  close  and  strict  attention  to  his 
business  he  surmounted  many  difficulties  and  built  up  a  business  that 
extends  to  several  counties.  He  is  a  merchant  farmer,  manufacturer 
and  capitalist.  As  ,c  merchant  his  linn  d.ie<  the  largest  im-ine-s  in 
Pitt  County:  as  a  farmer,  he  is  the  largest  landowner  in  the  county 
and  is  practical  and  successful:  as  a  manufacturer,  he  is  interested  in 


PITT    COUNTY     MKX     AM)     \VO.\IK.\.  203 

a  number  of  enterprises  and  much  of  theii  success  is  <!uc  to  his  ability 
as  a  financier;  as  n  capitalist,  he  is  an  extensive  hanker  and  does  a 
large  business.  Thus  lie  is  Pitt  County's  largest  merchant,  largest  far- 
mer, largest  banker,  prominent  in  all  affairs  of  the  county,  and  a 
bachelor. 


COTTEX,  ROBERT  RANDOLPH,  son  of  John  L.  and  Nancy  A.  Cot 
ten,  was  born  in  upper  Edgecombe  county,  June  20th,  IMIW.  His  father 
was  a  fanner.  His  grandfather,  Roderick  Cotton,  was  a  planter  also. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Aaron  John>on.  a  large  and 
wealthy  planter  and  slaveowner. 

From  the  common  schools,  Mr.  Cotten  went  to  Maltimore,  where  lie 
finished  his  education  and  for  a  while  made  Baltimore  hi*  home,  engag- 
ing in  the  mercantile  business  as  a  traveling  salesman.  When  the  war 
of  18G1-5  began  he  came  back  to  Edgeeombe  and  enlisted  in  Company 
O,  Third  North  Carolina  Cawlry.  He  went  through  the  war  aixl  sur- 
rendered with  (Jcneral  Lee  at  Appomattox.  After  the  war  lie  began 
business  in  Tarhoro  and  came  to  Falkland,  Pitt  county,  and  opened 
business  about  18(iS.  lie  soon  had  a  branch  business  in  \ViIson,  and 
was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  first  bank  orgaui/ed  in  that  town.  He 
lias  held  many  positions  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  long  a  director  of 
the  State  Hospital  at  Raleigh,  of  the  State  penitentiary  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  democratic  State  executive  committee  fifteen  years. 
For  several  years  after  coining  to  Pitt  he  was  a  Justice  uf  the  Peace, 
and  on  the  organization  of  the  Pitt  County  Inferior  Court,  he  was 
elected  its  chairman  and  held  that  position  several  \ears.  In  I'.iOS  he 
was  nominated  and  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  (House)  and  is 
now  a  State  Senator,  having  been  elected  at  the  election  on  November 
8th,  1910.  He  is  a  large  farmer,  with  his  farms  in  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, and  also  a  merchant,  supplying  his  farms  and  otherwise  doing 
business,  lie,  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church. 

March  7th.  ISfifi,  he  married  Miss  Sallie  Southall.  daughter  of  Colonel 
Thomas  Southall,  of  Murfreesboro,  X.  C.  They  have  six  children,  three 
sous  and  three  daughters.  Bruce  Cotten.  their  oldest  son.  is  a  United 
States  army  officer,  and  married  Mrs.  Edith  Johns  TVS m,  of  Baltimore. 
Lyman  A.  Cotten  is  a  United  States  naval  officer  and  married  Miss 
Bessie  Henderson,  of  Salisbury,  X.  C.  Preston  S.  Cotten  is  a  lawyer  of 
Norfolk,  Virginia.  Their  daughters,  all  married,  are  Mrs.  Julian  Tim- 
berlake.  of  Raleigh.  X.  C. :  Mrs.  Russell  B.  Wiggin.  of  Boston.  Mass., 
and  Mrs.  Douglass  1*.  Wesson,  of  Springfield.  Mass. 


r  = 

THE  BIG  STORE 

" Munfords" 

GREENVILLE'S  REAL  OUTFITTER    FOR  THE 
OUTER  MAN 

FOR  THE   FAIR  SEX  FOR  THE   STERNER  SEX 

EVERYTHING  —  Millinery,  EVERYTHING— Hats,  Cloth- 
Dress  Goods,  Ready-to-wear  ing,  Shirts,  Underwear,  Over- 
Goods,  No  ve  1 1  i  e  s  ,  Notions,  wear,  Neckwear,  Shoes,  Ho- 
Stockings,  Shoes,  Etc.  siery,  Etc. 

Ladies'  and    Gentlemen's   Furnishings 


Everything  for  the  Matron,  the       Everything   for    the    Man,    the 
Maid,  the  Miss  and  the  Baby  Beau,    the    Youth   and    for   the 

Boys 


FOR  THE  ENTIRE  HOUSE 

For  the  Parlor,  Library,  Bed  Room,  Dining   Room 

and  Kitchen.    Carpets,  Rugs,  Cribs,  Hall 

Racks,  Porch  Chairs  and  Pictures 

A    Department  Store,    Complete  in    Every    Line,    and  it  is  just 

C.  T.  MUNFORD 

GREENVILLE,  N.  C. 

V  J 


J.  S.   MOORING 

DEALER  IN 

General    Merchandise 

GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

A.  B.  Ellington  £r  Company 
VARIETY  STORE 

School  Books  and  Stationery 
GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

EDMOND  H.  TAFT  ZACK  P.  VANDYKE 

TAFT  &  VANDYKE 

Dealers  in  Furniture  and  Stoves,  Dry  Goods  and 
Notions,  Shoes,  Etc. 

PHONE  59 
GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

HOME  OF  PURE   DRUGS  and  CHEMICALS 

Fancy  Goods.  Toilet  Articles, 
Patent  Medicines,  Cigars.  Cold 
Drinks,  and  every  thing  usually 
found  in  a  fir-t-class  Drug  Store. 

DR.  E.   A.   MOVE 
GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


LH.  FENDER 

GREENVILLE,  N.  C. 
MANUFACTURER  OF 

TOBACCO  FLUES 

CONTRACTOR  FOR 

Plumbing  and  Tinning 

J.  E.WINSLOW 


HORSES  AND  MULES 

SALE  STABLES  : 

AY  DEN,  AND  GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

Office : 
GREENVILLE,  N.  C. 


JAMES  LONG 

Pure  and  Fresh   Groceries 

GREENVILLE,  N    C. 

A  Complete  Line  of  Light  and  Fancy  Table  Oroceries,  Canned  ( lood- 
Candies,  Cakes,  Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

ALSO  HEAVY   FAMILY   (1ROCERIES    ALWAYS  IN  STOCK 


PULLEY  &  BOWEN 

DEALERS  IN 

Silks,  Embroideries,  Laces,  Fine    Footwear, 
Notions  and  Novelties 

Home  of  Women's  Fashions  (iRHHNVILLH,  N.  C. 


r>  i      ti     01      ii  Merchandise    Broker, 

Ed.  H.  Shelburn,  n  t ..  -• . 

Distributing  Agency 

GREENVILLE.  N.  C. 

Gasoline  Engines.  Mowers.  Reapers.  Threshers       For  lhe  International   Harvester 
and  All  Kinds  of  Farm  Machinery.  Company 


(ALL  O> 


GREENVILLE.  N.    C. 
WHEN  YOU  WANT  PHONE  -2* 


P.  M.  JOHNSTON 

GREENVILLE.  N.    C. 

PLUMBING 


ESTIMATES  GIVEN    ON  APPLICATION 

THE  LEADER  PNEUMATIC   SYSTEM   FOR  TOWN 
AND  COUNTRY  A  SPECIALTY 


H.  A,  WHITE 

INSURANCE 

LIFE,    FIRE,  ACCIDENT,    BONDS 
GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company 
of  New  York 

First  in  America          Organized   1842 Assets  $600,000,000 

High  Annual  Cash  Dividends,  Liberal  Terms  and  Privileges  to  Its 
Policy-holders  makes  It  the  Best  in  the  World. 

H.  BENTLEY  HARRIS,  Manager  Greenville  District.          Greenville,  N.  C 


CENTRAL  BARBER  SHOP 

HERBERT  EDMONDS,  Proprietor 

Located  in  main  business  of  town.     Four  chairs  in  operation  and 

each  one  presided  over  by  a  skilled  barber.     Ladies 

waited  on  at  their  homes 

J.  R.  SPIER.  President  C.«S.  CARR,  Cashier 

The  Greenville  Banking  and  Trust  Company 

GREENVILLE,  X.  C. 
CAPITAL  $50,000.00 

Prompt,    Progressive,    Accommodating 
Appreciates  Old  Friends— Welcomes  New 

Provided  with  every  safeguard  for  the  protection  of  its  Depositors  and 
endeavors  to  give  them  the  BEST  SERVICE. 

Your  Business  Solicited 


T 


F.  G.  JAMES,  J    P.  QUINERLY.  C.  J.  FORBES. 

President  VIce-President  Cashier 

National  Bank  of  Greenville 

Greenville,   N.  C. 
Capital,   $50,000.00—  Organized   1906—  Surplus,   $10,000.00 


The  First  Consideration  of  the  Officers  and  Directors 

of  This  Bank  is  the  Security  of  the  Funds 

Intrusted  to  Our  Care  by  Depositors 


With  a  Paid-up  Capital  of  $50,000.00,  and  a  Surplus 

of  $10,000.00,  a  practical  management  and 

a  representative  Board  of  Directors,  this 

Bank  is  prepared  to  offer  you  the 

best  service  possible,  based  on 

sound  banking  principles 


Resources  Over  One  Quarter  of  a 
Million  Dollars 


THE    ONLY    NATIONAL    BANK   IN   PITT 
COUNTY 

V  — 


ALBION  DUNN 

GREENVILLE,  N.  C. 

ATTORNEY   AND  COUNSELLOR   AT  LAW 


Practices  wherever  his  services  are  required 
DUNN  £r  DUNN,  Scotland  Neck,  N.  C. 

S.  J.  EVERETT 


PHONE  328 

GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


CHARLES  C.  PIERCE 

ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 

MAIN  STREET,  PHOENIX  BUILDING 

GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

WILLIAM  F.  EVANS 

ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 


GREENVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

JULIUS  BROWN,  ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 

Greenville,  N.  C. 


L.  I.  MOORE  AND  W.  H.  LONG 

(SKK  SKETCH) 

ATTORNEYS  AT  LAW 

Greenville,  N.  C. 


F.  G.  JAMES  AND  SON,        ATTORNEYS  AT  LAW 

(HKK  HKKT.H)  Greenville,  N.  C. 

T.  J.  JARVIS  AND  A.  L.  BLOW 

(SKK  SKKTCH  KM) 

ATTORNEYS  AT  LAW 

Greenville.   N.  C. 

F.  M.  WOOTEN,  ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 

(SKK  SKKTCH)  Greenville,  N.  C/ 

HARRY  SKINNER,  ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 

(SKK  SKKTCH)  Greenville,  N.  C. 

F.  C.  HARDING,  ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 

Greenville,  N.  C. 

JL-*        i\  •        _»     Drummers        ^  |^ 
ames  r.  l\mg  u™,    Jiables 


CHKMNVILLK.  X.  C. 


SALE,  FEED,  BOARDING,  LIVERY 


J.  C.  LANIER  N.  W. OUTLAW 

DEALER  IN 

ATTORNEY  AT  LAW 
Monuments 


AND 


T-          r  Office  formerly    occupied  hv  .!.   I.. 

lombstones 

Fleming 

IRON  FENCING 

GREENVILLE.         XOKTH  CAROLINA      GREENVILLE,         NORTH  CAROLINA 


CAROLINA  COAST  COUNTRY  ALONG  THE 

Norfolk  Southern 


Carolina  Coast  Country  climate  creates  choice  cotton 
crop  conditions. 

Pitt  County  lands  are  ideal  for  tobacco,  cotton,  corn, 
hay,  grain  and  grasses  of  all  kinds.  Excellent  for  live 
stock  and  grazing. 

The  Xorfolk  Southern  Kailroad  affords  Pitt  County  the 
best  of  transportation  facilities,  in  both  passenger  and 
freight,  and  farm  locations  near  this  line  are  the  most 
desirable  in  the  country. 

The  Land  and  Industrial  Department  of  the  jSTorfolk 
Southern  has  just  issued  a  handsome  booklet  descriptive 
of  the  great  possibilities  of  Eastern  Xorth  Carolina.  This 
booklet  is  free  for  the  asking. 

Write  to  the  Land  Department  office  of  the  railroad  at 
Xorfolk  and  state  about  the  size  of  farm  you  are  looking 
for,  also  the  kind  of  crops  you  wish  to  grow,  and  they  will 
show  you  the  place  and  the  farm. 

ADDRESS 


W.  W.  CROXTON,  General  Passenger    Agent, 
Norfolk  Southern  Railway 

NORFOLK,  VA. 


Are  You  Reading  North  Carolina's  Foremost  Newspaper? 

The  Charlotte  Observer 

EVERY  DAY  IN  THE  YEAR 

One  Year  $8.00.    Three  Months  $2.00.    It  costs 
more,  but  you  get  a  real  live  Newspaper 


The  Evening  Chronicle 

EVERY  AFTERNOON  EXCEPT  SUNDAY 

$5.00  Per  Year.    $1.25  Three  Months 


-THE- 


Semi-Weekly  Observer 

EVERY  TUESDAY   AND  FRIDAY 
$1.00  Per  Year 


SEND  FOR  SAMPLE  COPIES 

THE  OBSERVER  COMPANY 

THE  OBSERVER  BUILDING 

CHARLOTTE,  N.    C. 


D.  J.  WHICHARD.  Pres.  A.  G.  COX,  Vice-Pres.  B.  B.  SUGG,  Sec.  and  Treas. 

THE  REFLECTOR  CO. 

(INCORPORATED) 
GREENVILLE,  N.  C. 

PUBLISHERS 

The  Carolina  Home  and  Farm  and  Eastern   Reflector, 
$1.00  the  Year 

The  Daily  Reflector,  $3.00  the  Year 

Advertising  rates  upon  application 

COMMERCIAL  JOB  PRINTERS 

Dealers  in  Loose  Leaf  Ledgers  and  other  Loose  Leaf 

Systems 

Embossed  Stationery  and   Engraved  Goods,  Such  as 
Weddings  Invitations,  Visiting  Cards,  Etc. 

THE  CAUCASIAN 

PUBLISHED  AT  RALEIGH,  N.  C. 

Every  Thursday,  is  the  leading  weekly  news- 
paper in  the  State.  THE  CAUCASIAN  was 
established  twenty-seven  years  ago,  has  been 
enlarged  to  eight  pages  and  is  the  only  Re- 
publican paper  published  at  the  State  Capital. 

SUBSCRIPTION  PRICE  $1.00 
WRITE  FOR  SAMPLE  COPIES 

ADDRESS 

The  Caucasian,  Raleigh,   N.  C 


The  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate 

PUBLISH  Kl)  AT  i:  \  l.rn.11.  N.  <  .     KSTABMSHKD  1M.">5 

A  high-toned  religious  newspaper,  organ  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina Annual  Conference.  Eight  thousand  subscribers.  A  fine 
advertising  medium.  Ought  to  be  in  every  home;  in  the  North 
Carolina  Conference.  $1.50  per  year.  Send  for  it. 

ADDRESS 

L.  S.  MASSEY,  Business  Manager 

RALEIGH,  N.  C. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


'     "I 


,     '  jtf* 

• 


-^ 


Form  L9 — 15m-10,'4S  (Blu::iJ )  44  i 


AA      000019  134   6 


DO    NOT    REMOVE 
THIS    BOOK   CARD 


